Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Homemade Crock Pot Mac N Cheese


Ingredients

  • 1 package (16 ounces) elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
  • 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
  • 1 cup 2% milk
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs

Directions

  • Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Place in a
  • 5-qt. slow cooker; add butter. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, 3
  • cups cheese, evaporated milk, soup and 2% milk. Pour over macaroni
  • mixture and stir to combine. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
  • Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bread crumbs. Cover and cook 15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.

Curried Rice with Shrimp

Another winner from "Family Feasts for $75 a Week"

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, thinly sliced
  • 2 russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 cup uncooked long-grain white rice
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound medium-size shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 2 teaspoons dried

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add onion, carrots, and potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until they start to soften, 6 to 8 minutes. If vegetables begin to stick, add a little slosh of chicken broth to skillet.
2. Add garlic and curry powder; cook, stirring until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add rice, broth, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Add shrimp; stir, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until shrimp are opaque and rice is tender, another 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle with basil and serve.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Crockpot Italian Chicken


Crockpot Italian Chicken
4 chicken breasts
1 packet Zesty Italian dressing seasoning
8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can milk (can adjust soup/milk ratio for desired thickness)
2 tablespoons of garlic powder

1 package of pasta (cook separately and toss with other ingredients from crock pot)

Cook on low for 7-8 hours.
If sauce is too thick, add a little milk.
Add pasta to chicken and toss

Asian Marinated Chicken

 
 
Ingredients:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3 Tbs peeled and finely chopped fresh ginger, from 1 ( 3 - 4 ") piece
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp garlic chili sauce *optional
3 Lbs bone-in, skin-on,chicken thighs, drumsticks, and breasts, combination of all three

Directions:
Whisk all of the marinade ingredients together and pour into a 9X13 broiler proof baking dish. Lay chicken pieces in a single layer on top of marinade and turn to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours, turning chicken at least once during that time. Remove chicken from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Place oven rack in the middle and heat oven to 475 degrees. Turn all chicken pieces skin side up in the dish. Bake for 40 minutes or until chicken is starting to turn dark brown in color. Set the oven to broil and roast until the skin is nice and crisped, about 3 minutes. Serve with sauce on the side.

Mexican Stuffed Shells

 
I made a double batch of this and froze one.
 
 
16-20 jumbo pasta shells (20 will fill a 9x13 baking dish)
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (16 oz.) refried beans
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese, divided
2 tbsp. chili powder
1½ cups (12 oz. bottle) taco sauce or salsa, divided
¼ cup sliced green onions
Light sour cream (optional)

1. Prepare pasta shells according to package directions, then drain. (I always prepare a few extra in case some break while being filled.) After cooking, either toss with a little oil (to prevent sticking), or set out on a baking sheet, separated, while they wait to be filled.

2. Cook beef in large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink. Drain. Add beans, ¾ cup cheese and chili powder; mix well.

3. Spread ¼ cup taco sauce over bottom of each of two 8-inch square baking dishes (or ½ cup sauce in an 9x13 pan). Fill pasta shells with beef mixture (about 3 tbsp. each, which equals one large cookie scoop). Place 8-10 shells in each baking dish, filled side up. Spoon remaining taco sauce over shells. Cover one baking dish with plastic wrap, then wrap with foil. Label and freeze for up to 2 months.

4. Cover remaining baking dish with foil. Bake at 350º for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Serve with green onions and sour cream.

To bake frozen shells: Place baking dish in the refrigerator overnight. Preheat oven to 375º. Remove foil & plastic wrap; recover with foil. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until heated through. Top the same way as above.

PW's Chicken Parmesan

 
The sauce on this one is amazing!!
  • 4 whole (up To 6) Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Trimmed And Pounded Flat
  • 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
  • Salt And Pepper, to taste
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 2 Tablespoons Butter
  • 1 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
  • 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 3/4 cups Wine (white Or Red Is Fine)
  • 3 cans (14.5 Oz.) Crushed Tomatoes
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 1/4 cube Chopped Fresh Parsley
  • 1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • 1 pound Thin Linguine

Preparation Instructions

Mix flour, salt, and pepper together on a large plate.
Dredge flattened chicken breasts in flour mixture. Set aside.
At this time, you can start a pot of water for your pasta. Cook linguine until al dente.
Heat olive oil and butter together in a large skillet over medium heat. When butter is melted and oil/butter mixture is hot, fry chicken breasts until nice and golden brown on each side, about 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Remove chicken breasts from the skillet and keep warm.
Without cleaning skillet, add onions and garlic and gently stir for 2 minutes. Pour in wine and scrape the bottom of the pan, getting all the flavorful bits off the bottom. Allow wine to cook down until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.
Pour in crushed tomatoes and stir to combine. Add sugar and more salt and pepper to taste. Allow to cook for 30 minutes. Toward the end of cooking time, add chopped parsley and give sauce a final stir.
Carefully lay chicken breasts on top of the sauce and completely cover them in grated Parmesan. Place lid on skillet and reduce heat to low. Allow to simmer until cheese is melted and chicken is thoroughly heated. Add more cheese to taste.
Place cooked noodles on a plate and cover with sauce. Place chicken breast on top and sprinkle with more parsley. Serve immediately.

Kung Pao Chicken W/ Sesame Noodles

 
Kung Pao Chicken (from Mary Ostyn!!)
Ingredients:
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves - cut into chunks
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2
tablespoons water
1 ounce hot chile paste
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
4 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts
4 ounces chopped peanuts
Directions:
1.To Make Marinade: Combine 1 tablespoon wine, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon cornstarch/water mixture and mix together. Place chicken pieces in a glass dish or bowl and add marinade. Toss to coat. Cover dish and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
2.To Make Sauce: In a small bowl combine 1 tablespoon wine, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon cornstarch/water mixture, chili paste, vinegar and sugar. Mix together and add green onion, garlic, water chestnuts and peanuts. In a medium skillet, heat sauce slowly until aromatic.
3Meanwhile, remove chicken from marinade and saute in a large skillet until meat is white and juices run clear. When sauce is aromatic, add sauteed chicken to it and let simmer together until sauce thickens.


Pioneer Woman's Sesame Noodles:

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces, fluid Thin Noodles, Cooked And Drained
  • ¼ cups Soy Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • 4 cloves Garlic, Minced
  • 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
  • 3 Tablespoons Pure Sesame Oil
  • ½ teaspoons Hot Chili Oil
  • 4 Tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 4 whole Green Onions, Sliced Thin

Preparation Instructions

Whisk all ingredients (except noodles and green onions) together in a bowl. Taste and adjust ingredients as needed.
Pour sauce over warm noodles and toss to coat.
Sprinkle with green onions and toss.