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    Taco Chicken Pizza


    2010 - 06.18

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in Dinners | 3 Comments »

    It was sort of left overs night. This is a favorite for me and Justin, not so much for the little one but she’s super picky!!!

    Big Bowl o’ Cheese!

    the Ingredients

    Pre-Baked

    Fresh from the Oven

    On my Plate!

    Taco Chicken Pizza

    1 13.6 ounce can refrigerated pizza crust dough
    1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, ground
    1 1.25 ounce packet taco seasoning mix
    1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
    1/2 11 ounce can canned corn, drained
    1/2 15 ounce can canned black beans, rinsed and drained
    1/2 15 ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
    2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded (2 to 3 cups)

    Heat oven to 400°F. Spray or grease 15×10-inch or larger dark or nonstick cookie sheet. Unroll dough on cookie sheet; starting at center, press dough into 15×10-inch rectangle. Prebake crust for about 7 minutes. This will stop the crust from getting soggy.

    In 10-inch skillet, cook ground chicken, taco seasoning mix and water as directed on package. Set aside. Or you can use left over taco meat.

    Pour tomato sauce on crust, leaving 3/4 inch lip around the outside for crust. Sprinkle taco meat, corn, black bean, and diced tomatoes over tomato sauce. Add cheese (lots of cheese!)

    Bake 13 to 16 minutes or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.

    I like this recipe because you can just throw whatever you want on it and it always comes out good!!!

    Cherry Cobbler


    2010 - 06.16

    Tags: ,
    Posted in Baking | 1 Comment »

    Mom wanted Cherry Cobbler for her birthday dessert. She picked out the recipe from here. And the rest is history!

    Cherries from the Tustin Farmer’s Market

    the Ingredients

    All Pitted

    Getting Ready

    Put on the Syrup

    Fresh out of the Oven

    Soon to be in my BELLY!!!!

    Cherry Cobbler

    3/4 cup sugar
    3 tablespoons butter, melted
    1 cup flour
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon baking powder
    1/2 cup milk
    3 1/2 cups cherries, pitted
    1 cup sugar
    1 tablespoon cornstarch
    1 cup boiling water

    Mix 3/4 cup sugar, butter or margarine, flour, salt, baking powder, and milk together. Place cherries in the bottom of a 9 inch square pan. Spread dough over cherries.

    In a small bowl, combine 1 cup sugar and cornstarch. Stir in boiling water. Pour mixture over the dough.

    Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Serve warm.

    I was a little nervous when I poured the syrup on, but it came out great! Will definitely make this again!

    Awesome Thai Chicken Coconut Curry


    2010 - 06.16

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in Dinners | 1 Comment »

    Tonight was my mom’s birthday and she requested curry and cherry cobbler (I’ll get to that one too). Being the wonderful daughter I am I made them both for her! The got the curry recipe here.

    the Ingredients

    Lemon Grass

    Curry w/ Chicken

    Adding the Pineapple

    On the Plate

    Awesome Thai Chicken Coconut Curry

    2 cloves garlic, minced
    2 tablespoons vegetable oil
    2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
    2 teaspoons red curry paste  (2 to 4)
    1 teaspoon curry powder
    2 14 ounce cans canned coconut milk, not lite
    2/3 cup water
    2 teaspoons salt
    2 stalks lemongrass, first outer layer removed cut in half
    4 teaspoons fish sauce
    2 teaspoons brown sugar
    3 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
    2 8 ounce cans pineapple chunks in juice, drained
    green onions, chopped optional

    Heat the oil in a large wok, add the garlic, saute.

    Add the curry, ginger and the thicker cream on top of the can of coconut milk to the wok, whisk.

    Now add the rest of the coconut milk in along with everything but the chicken and pineapple, whisk.

    Bring to a slow boil for 7 minutes, then discard the lemongrass Add the chicken and pineapple and cook till the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 7-9 minutes.

    Serve over Jasmine rice and top with green onion.

    I don’t ever put the green onions. Just not a fan. Sometimes I add crushed peppers to kick up the heat. This curry is very yummy!!!

    Chipotle-Lime Roasted Chicken with Tomatillo Sauce & Rice Acapulo


    2010 - 06.15

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    Posted in Dinners | No Comments »

    Longest title ever!!! Today we tried something new, the chicken, with a rice dish that I like. All in all it was okay. The chicken tasted like chicken but I liked it dipped in the sauce. Anyway I got the chicken recipe here.

    Chicken Ingredients

    Ready for the Oven

    All Cooked

    Prepping the Sauce

    All Sauced Up!

    the Rice Ingredients

    Cooking the Rice

    All Cooked

    Plated and ready to EAT!!!

    Chipotle-Lime Roasted Chicken with Tomatillo Sauce

    Serves 4

    1 4 pound roasting chicken
    2 teaspoons butter, softened
    1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
    1 teaspoon lime zest
    3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
    1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
    4 cloves garlic, minced and divided
    8 ounces tomatillos
    1 whole onion, quartered
    1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
    1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
    1 4.5 ounce can diced green chiles
    fresh cilantro, chopped, optional

    Preheat oven to 375°.

    Remove and discard giblets and neck from chicken; trim excess fat. Starting at neck cavity, loosen skin from breasts and drumsticks by inserting fingers, gently pushing between skin and meat.

    Combine butter, chile powder, rind, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cumin, and 1 garlic clove in a small bowl. Rub seasoning mixture under loosened skin and over breasts and drumsticks. Tie ends of legs together with twine. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under chicken. Place chicken, breast side up, on a rack coated with cooking spray; place rack in roasting pan.

    Discard husks and stems from tomatillos; cut into quarters. Arrange tomatillos and onion evenly around chicken. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes.

    Increase oven temperature to 450°, and bake an additional 20 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in the meaty part of thigh registers 170°. Remove chicken from pan; let stand 15 minutes.

    Place tomatillos and onion in a food processor. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 3 garlic cloves, cilantro, juice, and chiles; process until smooth.

    Remove skin from chicken; discard. Carve chicken, and serve with sauce. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

    Rice Acapulo

    Serves 4

    3/4 cup instant brown rice
    1 tablespoon canola oil
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1/4 cup onion, finely chopped
    1 14 ounce can canned diced tomatoes
    1 1/2 cups chicken broth
    1 teaspoon chili powder
    1/2 teaspoon cumin
    1/4 cup fresh cilantro

    Cook rice in oil in skillet over medium heat until rice begins to brown. Mix in garlic, onion, tomatoes; saute2 to 3 minutes longer. Stir in broth and remaining ingredients, except cilantro; heat to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 to 30 minutes or until rice is tender. Season to taste with salt and pepperr; stir in cilantro.

    Enjoy!!!

    Raisin Cookies


    2010 - 06.15

    Tags: ,
    Posted in Baking | 1 Comment »

    Today I wanted to make something with raisins, since I had a bunch of giant regular and golden raisins. I decided on this:

    the Ingredients

    Soaking the Raisins

    Mixing

    the Dough

    Dough Balls

    Cookies!!!

    Raisin Cookies

    3 whole eggs, beaten
    2 teaspoons vanilla
    1/2 teaspoon almond extract
    1 1/4 cups raisins
    1 cup butter, softened
    1 cup light brown sugar
    1 cup sugar
    2 1/2 cups flour
    2 teaspoons baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    2 cups quick-cooking oats

    In a small bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract and raisins. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour. Preheat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets.

    In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon; stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in the raisin mixture until well blended. Stir in oats. Roll into 1 inch balls and place them 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

    Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

    I have yet to try these (except for the dough, which was very yummy), they are cooling and I like to wait for them to cool so I can really taste them. All warm cookies taste good!!!

    This makes about 90 cookies.

    Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Icing


    2010 - 06.14

    Tags: ,
    Posted in Baking | 1 Comment »

    These make a lot of cupcake! It made 24 regular size and 24 minis. I currently have a lot of cupcakes! I got this recipe from the book Crazy About Cupcakes by Kyrstina Castella.

    the Ingredients

    In the Mini Pan

    In the Oven

    Fresh out of the Oven

    Icing Ingredients

    Ready to Eat!!!

    Lemon Cupcakes

    1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    2 cups sugar
    4 whole eggs, at room temperature
    3 cups flour
    1/2 teaspoon baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1 cup milk
    2 tablespoons lemon zest
    2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

    1.    Preheat oven to 325. Prepare cupcake pans.

    2.    In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar on medium speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating 1 minute after each addition.

    In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt.

    Add the dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, alternating with the milk. Mix until completely integrated. add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Mix batter for 30 seconds.

    Fill the liners 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool cupcakes in pans for 5 minutes then move to cooling rack.

    Lemon Icing

    4 cups powdered sugar
    1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
    3 tablespoons lemon zest
    1/2 cup lemon juice
    yellow food coloring, optional

    In a large bowl cream together the sugar and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Mix in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and food coloring until spreading consistency is achieved.

    *I found that the cupcakes weren’t that lemony. They were good just not as lemon as I wanted. The icing was very tart, but I like that and am hoping it will bring out some of the lemon taste in the cupcakes.

    Thai-Style Pork Chops


    2010 - 06.14

    Tags: ,
    Posted in Dinners | No Comments »

    Again another favorite! I got this recipe here.

    Marinading

    The Dipping Sauce Ingredients

    Grilling the Chops

    Dinner!!!

    Thai-Style Pork Chops

    1 1/2 pounds pork chops (about 1 inch thick)
    1/4 cup soy sauce
    1/4 cup water
    1 clove garlic, minced
    1 teaspoon pepper
    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    Dipping Sauce:
    1/8 cup water
    1 clove garlic
    3 whole jalapenos, chopped
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    1 tablespoon lime juice, or lemon juice
    1 tablespoon soy sauce
    1/2 teaspoon fish sauce

    For marinade, in a small bowl combine 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup water, 1 clove minced garlic, pepper and ginger.

    Place pork chops in a 1-gallon self-sealing bag, pour marinade over, seal bag and marinate in refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight. Drain chops, discarding marinade.

    Place chops  grill directly over medium-hot coals. Lower grill hood and grill chops for 4 to 6 minutes, turn chops and grill for 4 to 6 minutes more until chops are just done.

    Meanwhile, for Dipping Sauce, blend all remaining ingredients in blender container until almost smooth. Serve with chops and rice.

    Depending on how spicy you like your food you can add more or less jalapenos (or serranos depending on what I have on hand). I usually put in 3 and it’s GOOD, but I like spicy food!

    Hawaiian Kabobs


    2010 - 06.11

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    Posted in Dinners | No Comments »

    Tonight I made these kebobs. They were okay, kind of bland, but maybe that is just us!

    The Ingredients

    Marinading

    Pre-Grilling

    Dinner!!!

    Hawaiian Kabobs

    1/4 cup soy sauce
    1/8 cup vegetable oil
    1/2 tablespoon dark corn syrup
    1 clove garlic, minced
    1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
    1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
    1 1/4 pounds sirloin steak, cut in 1 1/2-inch pieces
    1 1/2 whole green bell pepper, cut in 1 inch squares
    1 pint cherry tomatoes

    In large bowl combine soy sauce, oil, corn syrup, garlic, dry mustard, and ginger. Add meat; cover and refrigerate several hours or overnight. Drain meat, reserving marinade. Alternate meat, green pepper, and tomato on skewers. Grill over medium-hot coals till desired doneness. Baste the kabobs occasionally with reserved marinade.

    Like I said kind of bland, but you live and learn!!! Recipe taken from here.

    Lime Chicken with Grilled Pineapple


    2010 - 06.10

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    Posted in Dinners | No Comments »

    This is one of my favorites!!! The original recipe can be found here. I love lime and pineapple so this is all good!!

    The Ingredients

    Marinading

    Grilled Pineapple

    Pineapple Salsa

    Grilling the Chicken

    Dinner!!!

    Lime Chicken with Grilled Pineapple

    6 8 ounce boneless skinless chicken breast
    1 teaspoon salt, divided
    1 teaspoon pepper, divided
    1 cup fresh lime juice, divided
    6 whole jalapeño peppers, minced and divided (or as many as you like)
    1/2 cup pineapple juice
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1/2 cup tequila, optional
    1 whole pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut horizontally in half
    1/2 teaspoon lime zest

    Place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap, and flatten to a 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

    Whisk together remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, 3/4 cup lime juice, 3 minced jalapeño pepper, pineapple juice, garlic, and tequila, if desired, in a medium bowl.

    Place chicken and lime mixture in a shallow bowl or a large zip-top freezer bag. Cover or seal, and chill 2 hours. Drain chicken, discarding marinade.

    Grill, covered with grill lid, over medium-high heat (350° to 400°) 4 minutes on each side or until done. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

    Grill pineapple 5 minutes on each side, watching to prevent burning; coarsely chop pineapple, and place in a medium bowl. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup lime juice, remaining 3 minced jalapeño, and lime rind. Serve with chicken.

    So yummy!!!!!

    Strawberry Banana Muffins


    2010 - 06.09

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in Baking | 4 Comments »

    I had some bananas that were ready for either banana bread, which Justin (that’s the husband) is not a big fan or muffins. And seriously who doesn’t like muffins?!?!?

    the Ingredients

    the Batter (yummy!)

    Entering the Over

    Just out of the Oven

    MUFFINS!!!!

    Strawberry Banana Muffins

    2/3 cup sugar
    1/2 cup oil
    2 whole eggs
    2 mashed banana
    1 teaspoon vanilla
    1 2/3 cups flour
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    3/4 cup fresh strawberries, finely chopped

    Line 12 muffin cups with paper baking cups. In a medium bowl, combine sugar, oil and eggs; blend well. Stir in bananas and vanilla. Add flour, baking soda and salt to sugar mixture; stir just until combined. Stir in strawberries.

    Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups. Bake @ 375 deg. for 17 to 21 minutes or until muffins test done. Immediately remove from muffin cups. Serve warm or cool.

    Now I must say that I have never had these before and since I’m sending them to Justin’s work tomorrow, it’s really up to him to let us know if they are good or not. I mean I can’t see how they could be bad, but you never know.

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