Key Recipes

Rachel Ray's doggie treat of the month!

2012-04-15T08:40:00.000-04:00

This was a very quick and easy recipe that my dogs just loved!

I will give you a warning though. If you have other people that live in your home, let them know that this is not cornbread. These are dog treats. Ha! Ha! or don't tell them and play a mean trick on them! It's your choice, I'm just giving you the warning!

1 can tuna (in water, do not drain)
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8" square baking dish.

In a food processor, combine the tuna with its liquid and the eggs;pulse to blend. Add the flour and pulse until crumbly.

Transfer the mixture to a baking dish and press into an even layer.

Bake until set, about 5 min. Let cool for about 15 min. then cut into 3 dozen squares. Once the treats cool completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Sweet and spicy Kabobs

2012-04-13T14:47:00.000-04:00

I took 2 skinless chicken breasts and pounded them down to about 1/2" thick. Then I cut them into 1" pieces. I also took 10-12 large shrimp(deveined and shells off).

Place the proteins in a large bowl and add a season all salt, lemon pepper and a touch of Cayenne pepper. Mix well.

In the meantime I cut up 5 mini peppers(or 1 1/2 large sweet peppers), 1/2 of red onion (all in 1" slices) and 1 pkg. of mushrooms.

Place the proteins as well as the vegetables in a large ziploc bag with 1/3 cup of pineapple juice(from a can), 1/4 cup of olive or grapeseed oil, 2 tablespoons of lime juice and red pepper to taste(as much as you like).

Mix well and place in the refrigerator for 2-4 hours.

Place on wooded skewers alternating veggies and meat. I put the chicken and shrimp on separate skewers due to the fact that the shrimp will cook faster than the chicken.

I than wrapped a few of the skewers with turkey bacon. 2 Slices per skewer and keep in place with toothpicks.

Then place on a hot grill for 15-20 min. turning ever 3-5 min. Take off of the grill and take the food off of the skewers and place on a plate.

Serve with your favorite sides and waaallllaaahhhhaaa! Happy eating y'all!

Chicken Hoagies with a cabbage slaw

2012-04-11T11:40:00.001-04:00

This is a very easy recipe with a whole lot of flavor!!!

I took 2 chicken breasts and marinated on a plate with about a teaspoon of rice vinegar, spicy mustard and lime juice. Make sure that both sides have the liquid on them. Then evenly sprinkle some season salt, garlic salt and ground pepper over both sides of the chicken breast as well. Allow to marinate for 15-30 min. Then cook the chicken on a grill, panini press or skillet. I prefer grilled. Allow to cook until the chicken breasts is 165 degrees. About 8-10 min. per side. (depending on how hot your grill is)

While your chicken is cooking chop up 1/4-1/2 of a head of red and white cabbage, a red bell pepper, 1/2 sweet onion and 1 tomatillo(or tomato), place in a large bowl and mix with some minced garlic, salt, pepper, feta cheese, and a light caesar dressing(like Ken's).

Mix well

Toast the hoagie rolls in the oven until crisp. Then add either mustard or mayo to the bun. I like mustard and my husband likes mayo. They both worked out well. Then add a slice of your favorite cheese. I used swiss, but a sharp cheddar would be amazing as well! Slice your chicken breasts into strips and place on top of the cheese. then add that amazing slaw... And wallllaaaaahhhhh!!! Happy eating y'all!

A healthier twist on popcorn.

2012-04-06T09:31:00.001-04:00

Ok, so we have all been told that popcorn is a healthy snack. BUT, the popcorn that you buy in the microwave bags really are not good for you. I used to buy the 100 calorie packs until I found this healthier and cheaper way to make a popcorn snack. I learned this from the nutritionist that works on the biggest loser show and I just had to try it out. Now, I am hooked!

Take a brown paper lunch bag and place 2 tablespoons of popcorn kernels inside the bag. Fold the bag over 2 times.

Place in the microwave for 2 min. Two tablespoons will fill a small bowl up perfectly. Then take whatever seasonings that you want, spray some butter and wallllaaahhhh so healthy and soooo much cheaper!

Happy snacking y'all!

Non-fried chicken panini w/ Tzatziki sauce and veggies w/ a lime dressing

2012-04-06T09:12:00.000-04:00

This dish EXPLODES with flavor and is very healthy!

I started out by taking 2 chicken breasts and pounding them flat. About 1/2-1/4" thick. Season with salt and pepper and place in a large freezer bag along with 3 tablespoons of greek yogart.

In a separate bowl generously pour a mixture of 1/2 panko and 1/2 cornflakes breading...

Dredge the chicken breast in the breading mixture and place on a baking sheet.

I like to place a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet and then place the chicken. This allows for the chicken to get crispy all over, no soggy bottom!

Place in a 350 degree oven for about 30 min. or until the chicken is 160 degrees.

While that is cooking it is time to make the veggies and the sauces.

For the veggies.... I took 1 lb. of fresh green beans(ends trimmed) and placed in a bowling pot of water for 5 min.

Take out of the water with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Then take 1 head of corn, cut off the cob and place in the boiling water for 2 min. and set aside.

Then dice up a red bell pepper, 1/2 a tub of mushrooms, and 1/2 sweet onion and place in a hot skillet for about 5 min. or until the onions start to become opaque.

For the Vegetable medley dressing....

1/4 cup of fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon honey
2 teaspoons of lime zest
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 cup of olive or grapeseed oil
salt and pepper

Mix well and place over the vegetables while in the skillet.

For the Tzatziki sauce(this is the sauce that I put in pita sandwiches)....

I took 1 tub of greek yogurt
1/2 a cucumber that I de-seeded, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon of dill
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon of salt and pepper
2 tablespoons of minced garlic

Mix well. And this sauce has only 36 calories per serving(there are 4 servings)!!!!!

Now it is time to take out your chicken from the oven. Let it rest for 5 min. and then thinly slice.
Take your pita bread and place a spoonful of your Tzatziki sauce, some fresh spinach, sun-dried tomatoes(not in oil) and your chicken slices.

Add your vegetable medley to the plate and you have a healthy meal!!! I also served with a side of sweet potato fries.

And that's it! It seems like a lot, but if you make the sauces ahead of time, you can have this meal done in about 35 min.!

waaalllllaaaahhhh! Happy eating y'all!

Chicken and Shrimp taco salad.

2012-04-04T11:48:00.000-04:00

I have really been trying to put together some healthy recipes. I work out daily, but I am moving to Florida towards the end of the year!!!!! Need I say more??? LOL!

So, last night I created my own version of a taco salad. It not only turned out great, but was quite filling! Here is what I did.....

I sliced 1 chicken breast (placed in a bowl), and in took (9) large gulf shrimp and seasoned with my favorite seasonings... pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, fajita seasoning, and garlic salt. I sprayed a pan with cooking spray and cooked for about 7-10 min.(or until there is no pink left in the meat).

In a separate saute pan, I mixed a can o kidney beans and great northern beans(both drained). Placed on low until warm.

While the protein and beans are cooking, I diced up the following veggies.... Cilantro,onions, tomatoes and red peppers.

Once everything is done (which only takes about 20 min. from start to finish), I took fresh spinach(instead of lettuce) and placed on a plate. Top with the meat mixture, veggies, salsa and hot sauce (homemade or store bought) and "sour cream" See below for my low fat version... Add some tortilla chips around the plate and top with some shredded cheese.

Instead of sour cream... I mix 1 tub of greek yogurt along with a can of green chili's. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well.. you will never know the difference.

Waalllllaaahhhhhhaaaa! Happy, healthy eating y'all!

Pan seared tilapia w/ shrimp, scallops and veggies!

2012-04-04T11:11:00.001-04:00

This was a very healthy meal that I literally just threw together. I keep fresh veggies as a staple in my home and I keep all of my meat in the freezer until the day that I am ready to cook(this way the meat does not go bad). So, I saw that I had some great seafood in the freezer and decided to make a seafood "stir fry" if you will. It really was delicious and very healthy!

I started off by taking about 1/2lb- 3/4 lb. of large gulf shrimp and 1 4 oz. pkg of baby scallops, and placed them in a bowl. Seasoned with a about a teaspoon of fish oil, season salt, pepper, garlic salt and crushed red pepper(optional). I let that marinate while I prepared the rest of the meal. About 20-30 min.

While the seafood is marinating, I cup up my veggies. You can use whatever that you have in the refrigerator. I cut up 3 whole mushrooms, 1/4 sweet red pepper, 1 stalk of celery, 2 small asparagus stalks, 1 parsnip(or carrot), 1 jalapeno(optional), 1/2 sweet onion, 1/2 cup of red cabbage and about 1 cup of broccoli florets.

I know that sounds like a lot of vegetables! That is why I suggest that you just go through what you have instead of buying just for this recipe. That could get expensive! I honestly just chopped up what I had!

I then seasoned those veggies with 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, 2 tablespoon's of lite Caesar dressing, some salt and pepper. I also cut up (2) slices of turkey bacon and mixed well...

I took my slices of tilapia and seasoned with the dry ingredients that I placed on the seafood. Then I heated one pan with cooking spray(i used cast iron, but it is not necessary) for the tilapia and heated a wok for the veggies and the seafood. The reason that I used a wok is b.c that is a lot of food, but if you don't have a wok, I would just use 2 separate pans. One for the veggie mix and another for the seafood mix. So you would have 3 pans going at one time.

If you are using a wok, place the seafood in first. For about 3 min. or until it turns pink. Then add the veggies and stir fry for another 7 min.

For the tilapia.... On med-high heat cook each side for 5 min.(or until flaky).

Place your veggie/seafood mixture on a plate and add the pan seared tilapia and Waaalllaahhh... you have a healthy, delicious meal! Happy eating Y'all!

Picks of the week

2012-04-01T10:59:00.000-04:00

I have 2 picks this week.

The first is......

My birthday was last weekend and my husband did not want to buy me a cake b.c he knew that he would be the one to eat it all! I do not have a huge sweet tooth. What I do love is Samoa girl scout cookies(maybe b.c you can only get them once a year lol). Funny thing about this pick of the week.... My husband has still ate most of it!

For my second pick.....

Now, I know that this is not food,but.... this really makes life just a little simpler. I love the brand as it is and use it on everything except my dark clothes. Then I use Woolite for darks. But anyway, I love just popping the tablets in and calling it a day!

Chicken tacos/burritos

2012-04-01T10:43:00.000-04:00

I took 2 chicken breasts, cut them into chunks and seasoned with my favorite seasonings. You can use whatever seasonings you like. I like to use a season all salt,garlic powder, CUMIN(cumin is a MUST in any tex mex or Mexican dish), and pepper.

I let that "marinate" for about 30 min.

Then take your chicken and place in a hot skillet. I did not use oil, rather just some cooking spray. This will aid in keeping the calories down. Cook until browned (about 10 min. on med.-high heat).

While the chicken was browning I took a can of beans, placed in a pot with about a quarter cup of diced onions, slice fresh jalapenos and chopped cilantro.

Then once that was warmed up(about 5 min. on med. heat) I started to put together the tacos.

I made one like taco bell with the hard shell and the soft. I took 1 flour tortilla and placed some melted Velveeta(processed cheese). This will act as the "glue" so to speak. Then I filled with chicken, the bean mixture, salsa and some spinach leaves(instead of lettuce).

For the burrito, I repeated the process minus the hard shell and added rice.

This time I chose not to use "Sour cream". But, a lighter version is Greek yogurt! I mix in a can of green chili's and it is delicious on any dish!

And waalllaaahhh. Happy eating y'all!

A copy cat recipe of Panera Breads Broccoli Chesse soup!

2012-03-29T12:28:00.000-04:00

I will have to start off by saying that I am sorry about the picture quality lately. I have sent my camera back to Nikon to be serviced. So, I have been using my Iphone and Ipad! I hope to have my camera back in the next few days!

I made this last night and I must say..... YUMMY!!!!!!!

I started by taking a sourdough loaf and hollowed it out with a knife. I then cut those interior pieces into slices for dipping.

In a small saute pan I took 1 tablespoon of butter and 1/2 diced sweet onion. I sauteed until golden and set aside.

In a large pot or dutch oven I melted 1/4 cup of butter and then whisked in 1/4 cup of flour. Stirring constantly. After about 2 min. of whisking, I added 2 cups of both fat free 1/2 and 1/2 cream and chicken stock. Let simmer on low for 20 min.

I then added 2 heads of chopped broccoli florets and 1 julienned carrot(I used parsnip), and the onions. Cook over low heat for 20-25 min. Add salt, pepper and a dash of nutmeg for taste.

Then I added 3 cups of shredded cheese( I used 2 cups of sharp cheddar, 1 cup mozzarella) and 2 tablespoons of processed Velveeta. Once the cheese melts, add to the bread bowl and wwwwaaalllllaahhh! Happy eating y'all!

Southwestern frittata

2012-03-24T15:16:00.001-04:00

I really just love recipes that are very versatile. You can literally just take a basic recipe,look into your refrigerator, see what you have and throw something together. That is what I did with this frittata and it was AMAZING!!!!

I took 1/2 cup of a frozen potato mix, placed in an iron skillet(or something oven safe) and cook on med. heat until slightly browned.

I then added 1/4 diced onion

4 oz. mushrooms

2 jalapenos (optional)

a handful of fresh spinach and some type of meat.

I used leftover fajita meat from last nights dinner. I cooked that for about 5-7 min. Until the heat warms up all of the ingredients.

I then took 9 eggs and whisked them vigorously(like you would do for scrambled eggs), and add to the pan. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.

Then add 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, 1/2 cup of feta cheese and 2 tablespoons of sun-dried tomatoes( not in oil. if in oil, rinse off).

Cook w/o stirring for about 5 min., or until the egg mixture is just about set but the top is still loose. Then place the pan in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 20-25 min. (until the center is set). Remove from the oven, slice and serve

And waaalllllaaaahhhh, Happy eating y'all!

A great pick from Texas

2012-03-24T08:06:00.002-04:00

Only from the great state of Texas!!! Gotta love it!

Stuffed peppers

2012-03-24T06:36:00.049-04:00

This recipe is not only quick and easy, it really has endless options!

Before I give you my recipe on this version of stuffed peppers, let me give you 2 basic hints when stuffing any pepper.

First.... If your peppers do not stand upright on a dish, take a knife and slightly cut the bottom to make the peppers flat.

Second... Before you stuff your peppers, Blanch them in boiling water for 3-4 min.

Place the peppers on a oven safe dish and begin to stuff!! He He! The possibilities are truly endless.

What I did is....

I took 1 lb. of 97% lean ground beef and browned with 1/2 white onion, garlic and a small can of mushrooms.

In a separate sauce pan I warmed up a can of diced tomatoes mixed with a can of Meatloaf sauce.

Once the beef is browned, I spooned some of the mixture in the peppers. Then I just started a layering process. I did the meat mixture, sauce, cheese, and repeated until full.

I then placed in a 350 degree oven for 15-20 min.(or until the skin on the peppers start to blister). I then topped with cheese and moved the oven to a high broil for 3-4 min. so the cheese could get nice and crispy. And waaaalllllaaahhhh! Easy dinner y'all! Happy eating!

Pick of the week

2012-03-21T14:01:00.002-04:00

Dill, sea salt and olive oil Triscuits

If you love Dill and you love Triscuit's, you're definitely going to love this pic of the week! Happy eating y'all

Chicken, veggie & rice soup

2012-03-21T10:19:00.002-04:00

Well it's been a while since I've posted and I apologize for that I have the camera mishap & I hurt my foot. But, i am so glad to be back with y'all!

Let me go ahead and start by saying that this is a wonderful diet recipe! It is a great go too for lunch. I make the entire recipe put the amount that I want in the refrigerator and freeze the rest. It will last in the freezer for up to one month. In a large Dutch oven or pot I combined 32 ounces of chicken stock, 2 (10 ounce) cans of diced tomatoes, one half of a whole shredded cabbage, one zucchini chopped, one onion chopped, two celery stocks chopped, two carrots chopped (or parsnip), and two jalapeños chopped (which is optional). Bring to boil over medium-high heat then reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

I then added one whole roasted chicken(skin removed and shredded), along with half a cup of cilantro,a tablespoon of cumin,and 2 tablespoons of lime juice. Then simmer for 10 or 15 minutes or until all of the chicken is heated through and then if desired serve with rice. And waaaallahhh, happy eating ya'll!!!

Mustard-pretzel crusted chicken

2012-03-13T10:39:00.000-04:00

In my household we eat a LOT of chicken breast! So, it is always a challenge to invent new ways of cooking it. Who wants the same ol' food everyday? Not me!

I started out with 2 chicken breasts, 1/4 cup of brown mustard, 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar, a dash of water, a dash of oil, season salt and pepper. Marinate for 20 min- 2 hours.

While that is marinating I took 1/2 bag of honey mustard pretzels, placed in a ziploc bag and crushed with a mallet.

Once your chicken breasts are marinated, just coat with the pretzels. No need for egg wash or anything! Place on a baking sheet(I also like to place the chicken on a cooling rack over the baking sheet so the chicken is crispy all around), and put in a 400 degree oven for 20-25 min. (or until a thermometer reads 165 degrees).

And waaaalllllaaaaahhhhh! Easy, delicious and very quick!
Happy eating y'all!

Taco bell and doritos have a baby!!! I don't eat fast food, but this is AMAZING! WTG Taco Bell!

2012-03-11T17:21:00.001-04:00

Taco Bell Gets Cheesy With New Doritos Taco Shell: ABCNEWS.COM - Dan, Bianna, Ron and Ginger taste-test Taco Bell's new Doritos Locos Tacos

Pick of the week! If you love Outback steakhouse's bread........

2012-03-11T12:52:00.000-04:00

This bread tastes JUST like Outback Steakhouse's bread!

I bought it at my local grocery store in the fresh baked bread section. It is not a brand from their store, so I am sure that you can find it at your local store.

I then heated in the oven until warm and I made a Cinnamon butter to go with it..... OMG!!!!

BBQ Tips!

2012-03-11T12:44:00.000-04:00

I LOVE to BBQ! Being from Texas, I guess that it is just in my blood! I prefer a charcoal grill, but that is a personal choice.

I am going to do something different in this entry! Instead of giving you my recipe on how I made my food. I am going to give you some tips on BBQ'ing.

Lets start with temperature;
If you do not own a meat thermometer, I advise getting one. They cost about 7.00 and you can find them in any grocery store.
For chicken: 165 degrees will give you an amazingly juicy chicken.

Steak: Since you should always let your meat rest for at least 15 min. then you need to take your steak off of the grill 5 degrees less than what you desire(because the steak will continue to cook while it is resting).

Rare - 120 degrees F
Medium Rare - 125 degrees F
Medium - 130 degrees F

As spring starts to show herself, I will continue to give great grilling tips! Out of all of my recipes..... grilling is my favorite method of all!

Baked chicken pasta w/Emeril Lagasse's roasted garlic pasta sauce!

2012-03-10T07:39:00.001-05:00

For Emeril's sauce

1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons of Extra-Virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon dried basil leaves
2 (28 ounce) cans whole Italian plum tomatoes, with their juices
3 whole heads roasted garlic, cloves removed from peels

In a large pot saute the onion in the olive oil over med.-high heat until soft and lightly golden, 4-6 min. Add the minced garlic and cook, stirring for 1 min. Add the tomato paste, salt, balsamic vinegar, hot sauce, crushed red pepper, Italian seasoning, and basil, cook for 1 min. Add the tomatoes, crushing with a fork in the pan(also add the juices). Stir to combine well and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to slow simmer and cook for 20 min. stirring occasionally.
Add the roasted garlic cloves and stir to combine. Continue to simmer for 30-45 min. or until the flavors have come together.
To roast the garlic I place the whole head of garlic in foil and drizzle with oil. (do each head separately). I then place in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 min. Let cool and then just squeeze the garlic out of the casing into the sauce.

Once I got the sauce going I marinated (2) cut up chicken breast in balsamic vinegar and Italian seasoning (about 30 min). I then cooked on a skillet until done (about 8 min.) and in a separate pot I boiled some penne pasta. I then took an oven safe dish and placed the pasta on the bottom and then the chicken.

I then topped with the sauce and some freshly chopped basil.

Top with your favorite shredded cheese and place in the oven on high broil until the cheese bubbles and browns.
And waaalllllaaaaahhhhhh! Happy eating y'all!

shepherd's pie

2012-03-06T19:25:00.000-05:00

I took 2 pkgs. of meat. I pkg. of ground turkey(about 1.25 lbs.), and 1 pkg. of 97% lean ground beef(about 1 lb.) Seasoned with my favorite seasonings...

Feel free to use your own. Then mash up all of the meat and seasonings in a bowl with your hands and place in a dutch oven or a skillet to brown.
Once the meat is almost browned; add some frozen veggies and diced onions(just to your liking, no measuring needed).

In a separate sauce pan add 4 tblspns. butter and 1 can of beef broth(2 cups), 5 tablespoons of flour and about 4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Whisk until it turns into a gravy.

Add the gravy mixture to the meat and veggies; place mixture into a casserole dish and set aside.
In a large pot boil 2 russet potatoes cut into 1-2" slices and boil until soft(about 10-12 min.). I leave the skins on, but that is optional.

Once the potatoes were soft, I placed them in my mixer with 2 tablespoons of cream cheese and a dash of milk(less then a 1/4 cup), salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
While that was mixing, I diced up some mushrooms and place on top of the meat mixture, but that is optional.

Top with the mashed potatoes(kinda like icing on a cake). Then I placed some Parmesan cheese and cilantro(or parsley) and placed in a broiled oven(on high) until the potatoes are browned...

I then served with a spinach salad and asparagus. And waaallllaaahhh Happy eating y'all!

Shrimp Pad Thai

2012-03-05T19:32:00.000-05:00

I got this recipe from cooking light magazine. My husband LOVES pad thai so I just had to try it. I turned out so good!

the ingredients...

6 oz. uncooked thick rice noodles
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp.
2 tbsp. fish sauce or additional soy sauce
1 tbsp. lime juice
2 tsp. chili sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
STIR FRY:
1 lb. uncooked med-large shrimp
3 tsp. sesame oil, divided
2 cups of fresh snow peas( I used edamame..soy beans)
2 med. carrots grated
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 cups of bean sprouts
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts ( I did not use)
Cook noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, fish sauce, lime juice, chili sauce, oil and pepper flakes until blended, set aside

In a large non-skillet or wok, stir-fry shrimp in 2 tbsp. oil until shrimp turn pink; remove and keep warm. Stir fry snow peas and carrots in remaining oil for 1-2 min. Add garlic, cook 1 min. longer or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add the eggs; cook and stir until set.
Drain noodles; add to shrimp mixture. Stir vinegar mixture and add to the skillet. Bring to a boil. Add shrimp, bean spouts and green onions; heat through. Sprinkle with cilantro and peanuts.

Easy weeknight chili

2012-03-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

Being a girl from Texas, I love a slow cooked chili! But, who does not love a quick recipe with great flavor?

I started out by browning 1 1/2 lb. of 97% fat free ground beef.

While the beef is browning I added a pkg. of McCormick chili seasoning. I also added some of my own seasonings like cumin, garlic powder and chili powder.

Once the beef was browned I added on can of diced tomatoes, I can of tomato paste, corn(drained), kidney beans(drained) and sliced peppers(jalapeno, red and yellow).

turn the heat on med.-low and let all of the peppers marinate into the flavor(about 8-10 min.) Then add a few tablespoons of cilantro and mix well.

While that was marinating, I made a "sour cream" out of greek yogurt and a can of green chili's

Then take your chili, top with cheese, onions and "sour cream".

I also served with a side of skillet corn bread. And walllaahhhhaaa! Happy easy weeknight eating Y'all!

Eggs Benedict

2012-03-03T14:13:00.000-05:00

I first started out by making the Hollandaise sauce.
in a tin cup or a steel bowl whisk together 4 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon of lemon or lime juice.
In a microwave safe bowl melt 1/3rd cup of butter.
I then placed water in my steamer and brought to a low boil. Place the straining basket in the boiler and then place your tin in the basket. The point of this is because you do not want the water to hit your sauce or the eggs will scramble.

Slowly add your melted butter and continually whisk until the sauce has thickened and the sauce has doubled in volume. Remove from heat and whisk in a pinch of salt and cayenne pepper. Place aside until you are ready to place on your eggs. If the sauce gets thick then just whisk in a few drops of warm water before pouring over your eggs.
For the eggs...
I took a med. sized pan(about 10") and filled the skillet half way with water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar. Once the water come to a slow boil on med-high heat I cracked two eggs into the boiling water(Just like if you were to do eggs over easy... you must be careful placing the eggs into the water).

While this is cooking I warmed up 2 sliced of canadian bacon and toasted an english muffin.
Once the eggs are done(about 5 min.), take a slotted spoon and carefully pull out of the water.

I placed 1/2 slice of cheese on both slices of the english muffins, topped with the canadian bacon, the eggs, hollandaise sauce and I placed 1 leaf of spinach.
and waaalllllaaahhhhh! Happy eating y'all

Blackened chicken with a cilantro, basil pasta

2012-03-02T20:48:00.001-05:00

I started out by taking 2 chicken breasts, placed in a ziploc bag and pounded out with a mallet. Once the chicken was between 1/4'-1/2" thick I placed on a plate and patted dry with a napkin. I then seasoned with garlic salt, pepper and paprika.

I took a cast iron skillet and covered with about 1/2" of grapeseed oil(you can use whatever oil that can stand a high heat). Once the oil starts to bubble, I added the chicken breasts and cooked for 8-10 min. per side. While that was cooking I chopped up 3 green onions, 3 small sweet peppers(or you could do one large red pepper), and some diced mushrooms. With the mushrooms I used the rest of the stems that I had left over from my stuffed mushrooms that I made on 2/29/12. The amount was equal to about 2 mushrooms.

Once the chicken is done I took it out of the pan and set aside. Add the vegetable mixture to skillet that you had the chicken in and cook until the vegetables are tender(about 4-5 min.). Once the veggies are tender I added 1 cup of chicken broth, 1/4 cup of white wine, 1/3 cup milk, 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 oz of cream cheese.

Once the cream cheese and butter melts add about 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro, 3 leaves of fresh diced basil and (2) roma tomatoes diced. Let all of those flavors marinate for about another 3-4 min.
Top this sauce over some whole wheat pasta and mix well. But save some of the sauce to top over the blackened chicken as well.
Slice your chicken, place on top of the pasta, add a little more sauce and some Parmesan cheese!!!!!
OMG people! A little slice of heaven!
Happy eating y'all!!!!