Sprightly Recipes

Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

2011-05-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I posted a recipe but finals are over and I'm not sick anymore, so I'm back in the kitchen =] I have been craving asparagus for quite a while and it was on sale at Wal-Mart last week so I picked up two bundles for dinners this week. I love asparagus for many reasons; its not only delicious and low in calories, but it's sooooo QUICK and EASY to make! You literally heat up some oil, throw in the asparagus and let it cook itself for 15 minutes while you occasionally stir it around. EASY right??

Garlic Parmesan Asparagus

1 bundle asparagus spears, trimmed
1 Tbs. minced garlic
2 Tbs. olive oil
1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Prepare asparagus spears (See preparation instructions below)
2. Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat
3. Add asparagus and toss the spears around in the oil to coat evenly
4. Salt and pepper to taste (I also throw a little garlic salt over them sometimes - optional)
5. Cook asparagus for approximately 5 minutes, stirring and rotating occasionally
6. Add minced garlic, continue to stir occasionally and cook for another 10 minutes (or until the thick ends of the spears become tender)
7. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of the spears and cook until melted (about 1 minute)

Serve warm

How to prepare asparagus:
Rinse the spears in warm water. Then remove and discard the tough ends by either using a knife to cut off a few inches or you can 'bend' each stalk until it breaks at its natural breaking point. (I prefer the bending method to ensure that you are left with the most tender parts of the asparagus with minimal waste)

Oven Roasted Vegetable Pasta

2011-04-06T17:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my pictures for this post aren't so great but the food definitely was! I wasn't sure what to make for dinner so I rummaged through the fridge and pantry to find something to throw together and this is what I came up with. It was super quick and turned out quite tasty. You can't go wrong with warm pasta and roasted veggies. I may even try adding spinach next time. mmmmmm...mmmmm....

I love roasted veggies and this dish is full of them! Roasting really brings out the natural juices and flavors of vegetables and they are wonderful!

Oven Roasted Vegetable Pasta

Serves: 2

Total Time: 35 minutes

1 Zucchini

1 Red Pepper

3/4 cup Grape Tomatoes

2 cups Pasta (I used bowtie)

1/4 cup Pesto Sauce

2-3 Tbls Herb and Garlic Marinade Sauce

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. Chop zucchini, red pepper and grape tomatoes and place in a large bowl

3. Add marinade sauce and stir to coat vegetables

4. Arrange vegetables on a cookie sheet (I covered mine with tin foil for easy clean up =]), salt and pepper to taste and bake for 20 minutes or until vegetables are soft and cooked all the way through

5. As the vegetables are roasting, prepare noodles according to your preferences

6. Combine noodles, pesto sauce and cooked vegetables in a large bowl

7. Stir to coat vegetables and noodles evenly with pesto sauce. Add more pesto sauce if needed.

8. Top with parmesan cheese and serve

Note: You can even use my creamy pesto sauce instead of plain pesto sauce. I used plain pesto sauce in this recipe to limit my calories but you will LOVE the creamy pesto sauce.

Calzone

2011-03-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the first time I have ever made calzones and they were a big hit. They are definitely one of my favorites and so fun to make. Plus, with only two people in the house, calzones are easier to make than full pizzas.

Calzones are great because they are another meal that can be personalized and can be made with whatever fillings you desire. I filled my calzone with homemade pizza sauce, pepperoni, spinach, green bell peppers and olives and my hubby filled his with homemade pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, olives and pineapple.

The recipe for the homemade pizza sauce is also below. It is to die for! I found it online a long time ago but I don't remember where. It's the best pizza sauce I've ever had and it is so incredibly easy to make. You just throw it all in a blender, pulse and you're done!

Calzone

1 roll Pillsbury Original or Thin Pizza Crust
1/2 cup homemade pizza sauce (or Ragu sauce)
1/2 cup raw spinach
1 cup mozzarella cheese
8-10 Hormel pepperoni slices
1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 cup large black olives, sliced
1 egg, beaten

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Roll out pizza crust into a 6-inch circle and place on cookie sheet.

3. Spread homemade pizza sauce on one half of the dough, leaving a 1-inch margin between the sauce and the edge of the dough.

4. Layer with half of the cheese, pepperoni, spinach, bell pepper and olives and top with remaining cheese.

5. Fold dough over and pinch edges shut. Use a fork to smash down the edges to keep them closed.

6. Lightly brush the top with the beaten egg. If you don't have a basting brush, a fork works well. The egg gives the crust a nice golden brown color while cooking.
7. Cut three slits in the top of the calzone to allow heat to escape while cooking.

8. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 10-15 minutes or until dough is cooked thoroughly.

Serve with a side of warm pizza sauce

Tip: Build the calzones on the cookie sheet that you intend to cook the them on. They are difficult to move once they are full and the dough could easily tear. You don't want all that goodness to fall out the bottom.

Homemade Pizza Sauce

1 (14 1/2 oz) can diced tomatoes
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1/4 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp onion powder
1 Tbsp sugar

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until it reaches desired consistency.

Baked Veggie Kabobs

2011-03-27T17:02:00.000-07:00

Kabobs are a healthy and quick side dish to any meal. They even make a great meal all on their own if you add marinated chicken, beef or pork to the kabobs. Today I decided to make veggie/fruit kabobs as a side dish. I used green and red peppers with chunks of fresh pineapple and cooked them in the oven but they are also delicious on the BBQ. This time, I didn't season my kabobs with anything because veggies have great natural flavor, but you can also baste them with your choice of marinade or sprinkle with your favorite seasoning. I highly recommend Lawry's Herb and Garlic marinade if you choose to baste the veggies before you cook them.

Some veggies that work well for kabobs include: red and green peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, red potatoes and any other veggies that you would like to use.

Fruit kabobs are also delicious and don't require any cooking. String bananas, strawberries, apple slices, grapes, pineapple and any other fruit on a skewer and serve for a healthy snack or side dish. Kabobs are so easy and so much fun to make with the family. Each person can personalize them and make them however they want.

Baked Veggie Kabobs

1 pkg. bamboo skewers
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 fresh pineapple
(other fruits or veggies of your choice)

1. Soak skewers in water for at least 30 minutes or over night, if possible. This helps keep the skewers hydrated and will prevent them from catching fire while cooking
2. Chop pineapple and red and green peppers into 1 inch cubes
3. Thread onto skewers, alternating veggies and pineapple
4. Place wire cooking rack on top of a cookie sheet and arrange kabobs on cooling rack
5. Broil 6 inches from heat for approximately 10 minutes, turning kabobs after 5 minutes. Keep a close eye on them as they can burn quickly.

Serve immediately.

Creamy Pesto Chicken Pasta

2011-03-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe while searching online but I don't remember where I found it. This meal is a lot quicker than I expected and tastes so good! It is definitely one that will be made often at my house.

Side note: I made this for St. Patrick's Day so the sauce in the pictures is a lot more green than it's supposed to be =] Also, I just used a rotisserie chicken and served it on the side but it is delicious if you combine it all together as well.

Chicken Pesto Pasta
Total time: 35 minutes
Servings: 3-4

3/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup pesto
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 box cooked pasta - I used garden rotini
3 cups cooked chicken shredded or chopped

Cook and chop/shred chicken and place in large mixing bowl.
Prepare pasta to your liking, combine with cooked chicken and set aside.
Boil the heavy cream, stirring constantly, it will boil quickly. Continue boiling on medium heat for 4-5 minutes until it thickens up.
Add pesto and most of the cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour creamy pesto sauce over pasta and chicken, stir to combine and top with remaining cheese.

Chicken Stir-Fry

2011-03-21T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today's quick and easy meal is, chicken stir-fry. It is probably the fastest meal I have ever made and I just used ingredients that I already had at home. It literally took me a little less than 15 minutes to throw this together and it is delicious and fairly healthy (next time, I'll use brown rice to make it even more healthy). It is quick, delicious and filling. Perfect for those busy nights.

Chicken Stir-Fry

Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves: 2-3

2 cups minute rice
2 cups water
1 tbs EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1 package frozen asparagus stir-fry (I use the Great Value band)
1 cup cooked, chopped chicken
1/2 - 1 cup Kikkoman stir-fry sauce (according to taste)

Combine water and rice in a glass or microwave safe bowl, cover and microwave for 8 minutes.
In a large sauce pan or wok, heat EVOO, asparagus stir-fry and chopped chicken* over medium-high heat until vegetables are tender.
Add Kikkoman stir-fry sauce (and chicken if not added in step 2, see note).
Heat thoroughly and serve over rice.

* I used left over rotisserie chicken that I shredded up. You can also use canned chicken or just cook and chop 2 chicken breasts. If the chicken is already hot, add to the stir-fry vegetables when you add the sauce in step 3.

I'm back!

2011-03-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, I haven't blogged for a really really long time but I am back =] I stopped blogging because I didn't like taking a lot of time after the food was done to take pictures of it. So, now I just quickly take a picture with my phone. So, needless to say, the pictures are not amazing but at least you get an idea of what the food looks like.

I probably won't post a new recipe everyday but I will try to get one or two new ones up each week. This blog is not only a good place for me to keep and record my recipes but for others to view and share recipes as well. If you have any recipes that you would like to share, please do. The more the merrier =]

Sweet Pork Chimichangas

2010-06-09T17:41:00.000-07:00

I was in the mood for mexican food the other night but I wasn't quite sure what to make so I just grabbed what I had available in the cupboard and made something up =] I just used some sweet pork that we made a while ago and had frozen. I love making tons of sweet pork and then freezing it to have on hand for quick and easy dinners. These turned out really good and everyone at my house seemed to really enjoy them. Next time I'm going to try adding more cheese to the filling. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Sweet Pork Chimichangas

- 10 flour tortillas

- 2 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil

- 1 box beef flavor Rice-A-Roni

- 3 cups shredded cheese (approximately)

- 1 tomato, diced

- 1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

- 1 1/2 lb. cooked and seasoned meat ( I used sweet pork but you can also use ground hamburger, shredded chicken, shredded beef or steak)

1. Cook Rice-A-Roni according to package directions and leave in skillet until you are ready to fill your tortillas

2. Heat tortillas in microwave until they are soft and warm (approx. 1 to 1 1/2 minutes)

3. Fill each tortilla down the center with rice, meat and shredded cheese (fill with as much cheese as you want)

4. Roll the tortilla into a burrito. Fold the tortilla in half, then fold the ends of the tortilla over. While holding the ends of the tortilla roll it over.

5. Place each chimichanga on a cookie sheet. Dip a basting brush in the extra virgin olive oil and lightly coat the tops of the chimichangas with the oil.

6. Place the cookie sheet in the oven, on the middle rack on Lo broil for approximately 5 minutes or until the tops are golden brown (keep an eye on them as every oven is different and you don't want them to burn)

7. Top with chopped tomatoes and cilantro and your choice of other toppings. I used sour cream, lettuce and taco sauce.

ENJOY!

Shredded Beef Tacos

2010-05-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

This recipe is practically the same as my carne asada taco recipe that I will definitely post in the future. However, this time I had extra roast beef that needed to be used so I made shredded beef tacos instead. I love mexican food because it is so quick, easy and flavorful. This is a dish that the whole family will enjoy!

Shredded Beef Tacos

1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
1 tomato, chopped

3 limes, quartered

1 lb shredded beef (I shredded the leftover roast beef that I cooked on Sunday)
1/2 cup water
1 package of taco seasoning
1 package of queso fresco (found in the fridge section at Wal-Mart near the cream cheese and uncooked tortillas)
1 package of corn tortillas

1. Combine water, taco seasoning and roast beef in skillet and cook on medium heat until heated through.
2. Put queso fresco in a bowl and use a fork to break up and crumble the cheese.
3. Warm tortillas in a skillet according to package directions.
4. Arrange two tortillas on a plate fill with seasoned shredded beef. Top with crumbled queso fresco, chopped tomato and cilantro. Squeeze fresh lime juice over each taco and top with salsa or taco sauce of your choice.

Ghiradelli ® Triple Thick Brownies

2010-05-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, so these brownies came out of a box but they are a quick and easy solution to a girl's chocolate craving! Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some chocolate syrup on top and you are good to go. We get these brownie mixes at Costco then I add walnuts to them because brownies are just better when they're nutty =]

Triple Thick Brownies

-2 Pouches of Ghiradelli ® Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix

-2/3 Cup Water

-2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

-2 Eggs

-1 Cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Prepare 13” x 9” baking pan by lightly greasing or spraying with non-stick cooking spray.
3. Blend water, oil and eggs in mixing bowl.
4. Add brownie mix and walnuts and stir until moistened (about 40 strokes).
5. Spoon batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
6. Bake 50-55 Minutes (For glass pan, add 5 minutes to the bake time.) Cool completely in pan before cutting. Yields 24 brownies.

Classic Sunday Dinner

2010-05-23T18:12:00.000-07:00

This recipe comes from my Mom. Growing up we always had that classic Sunday dinner with pot roast, mashed potatoes and gravy and corn. My Mom makes delicious and tender pot roast and in recent years she's made Sunday dinner with lazy mashed potatoes instead of regular mashed potatoes and I'm pretty sure I like them better. Lazy mashed potatoes are regular mashed potatoes only you don't peel the potatoes before you boil and mash them. YUM!

(A special thanks goes to my hubby for taking an amazing picture!)

Pot Roast
- 4 lb. pot roast
- 1 Tbls. beef bouillon
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 2 tsp. dried chopped onion

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Put 2 cups of water in a large glass baking dish and then place the pot roast in the dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper and dried chopped onion. Then put beef bouillon in the water around the roast.
3. Put the roast in the oven and cook for approximately 4 hours.
4. Check the roast every hour and add more water, if needed, so that the roast doesn't dry out.

Lazy Mashed Potatoes
- 10 russet potatoes
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 cube butter

1. Fill a large pot half full of water and place on stove on high heat.
2. Wash the potatoes with a wash cloth under warm water.
3. Cut the potatoes into cubes and put in pot of water.
4. Let potatoes boil until they are soft enough to put a toothpick through the middle.
5. Drain water and add milk and butter.
6. Mash potatoes until they are smooth.

Gravy
Yield: 1 quart of gravy

- 3/4 cup brown gravy mix
- 4 1/2 cups cold water
- 2 Tbls. corn starch

1. Put brown gravy mix in large pan and add small amount of water to make a paste.
2. Turn stove on medium high heat and slowly add 4 cups of cold water.
3. Continue stirring until gravy is boiling; reduce to medium heat.
4. In a cup, mix 1/2 cup cold water with cornstarch and then add to gravy.
5. Stir until gravy and cornstarch mixture are mixed well and there are no clumps.

Orange Julius

2010-05-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

Since I was little my Dad has made us orange julius' for our family movie nights and I love them! They are a quick and easy snack and they are so yummy!

Orange Julius

- 1 6oz can orange juice

- 1/2 cup sugar

- 1/2 cup milk

- 1 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 tray of ice

1. Put all ingredients except for the ice in the blender and puree for a few seconds

2. Add ice and puree until smooth

So quick and easy!!