Monthly Archives: December 2010

Rosemary Roasted Salmon

Happy New Year, everyone! This was part of our New Year’s Eve dinner and it was SO good!

Ingredients:
2 large bunches fresh rosemary
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
1 2-pound center-cut salmon fillet with skin
2 large lemons, thinly sliced
1/3 cup olive oil

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 450°F. Arrange half of rosemary sprigs in single layer in center of heavy baking sheet. Arrange sliced red onion atop rosemary.

Place salmon, skin side down, atop red onion. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Cover salmon with remaining rosemary sprigs. Arrange lemon slices over rosemary. Drizzle olive oil over. Sprinkle lemon slices with salt.

Roast salmon until just cooked through, about 20 minutes. Transfer salmon to plates. Serve with roasted onions and lemon slices.

We had this with a salad and a baguette.

Did I change anything? I also roasted some potatoes, carrots and Brussel sprouts along with the salmon. I started roasting the veggies before the salmon since the veggies take a bit longer.

What did the family think? The salmon was fantastic! The onions and Brussel sprouts cooked a little too much, but the potatoes and carrots were perfect. I think next time, I will cook the veggies separately on a lower rack in the oven and maybe for not quite as long.

from epicurious.com

1 Comment

Filed under Easy, Fish, Lent, Six Ingredients or Less

Creamy Chicken

I got Jessica Seinfeld’s new cookbook for Christmas. It says that this recipe is a hit with every child that eats at her house, so I figured this would be a good place to start.

Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 T soft butter (divided)
1 1/2 T flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 cup butternut squash puree (I used baby food)
Macaroni noodles or rice (I used macaroni)

Instructions:
Cook macaroni noodles/rice according to package directions.

Dice chicken into 1-inch pieces.

Heat 1 T butter in large skillet. Add the chicken and sprinkle salt and garlic powder on chicken. Cook until lightly browned then remove from skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Add the remaining butter to the skillet, then add the flour. Whisk in the chicken broth and stir for about 2 minutes making sure there are no lumps. When smooth, slowly add milk.

Let mixture cook for two minutes, stirring occasionally as it thickens. Add the chicken back to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes.

Add the puree, stir, take the skillet off the heat, allowing the sauce to thicken.

Serve chicken and sauce over macaroni noodles.

Did I change anything? I didn’t think the sauce was thick enough so I added about 3 T of cream cheese towards the end of the cooking process. I let it melt and stirred it in so that it was all mixed together. I also added some fresh ground pepper to the adult’s servings.

What did the family think? Holy cow! Our oldest not only ate all of his, but he then ate the rest of his brother’s and wanted to know if there was more. I think he could have literally licked his bowl clean if he knew that he could have gotten away with it. The kids LOVED it…I wish it would have had a bit more giddyup. But if the kids are licking their bowls, then I am happy.

1 Comment

Filed under Chicken, Easy, Everybody Ate It

Chocolate Cornflake Cookies

Yep, just like the butterscotch ones only with chocolate. These are super yummy, too!

Ingredients:
1 package chocolate chips (11 oz.)
3/4 cup dry-roasted salted peanuts
3 cups corn flakes cereal

Instructions:
Melt the chocolate chips in a large microwaveable bowl for about 90 seconds or until chips are melted.

Pour in peanuts and cereal and stir until everything is coated with chocolate.

Line countertops with wax or parchment paper. Drop spoonfuls of mixture onto wax/parchment paper and let cool for about 15 minutes.

What did the family think? Yum, yum, super yum and yum again. 😉

3 Comments

Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Butterscotch Cornflake Cookies

These are SUPER easy and taste SO good!

Ingredients:
1 package butterscotch chips (11 oz.)
3/4 cup dry-roasted salted peanuts
3 cups corn flakes cereal

Instructions:
Melt the butterscotch chips in a large microwaveable bowl for about 90 seconds or until chips are melted.

Pour in peanuts and cereal and stir until everything is coated with butterscotch.

Line countertops with wax or parchment paper. Drop spoonfuls of mixture onto wax/parchment paper and let cool for about 15 minutes.

What did the family think? Everyone is our house who likes butterscotch thought these were SUPER yum and the kids had fun helping me make them.

from Pinch My Salt

Leave a Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Definitely Making it Again, Desserts, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Scrambled Egg and Cheddar Cheese Panini

SInce my kids seem to think sandwiches are better when they come out of the panini maker…

Ingredients:
2 slices Italian Sandwich Bread or English Muffin
3 eggs, scrambled
1 slice Cheddar Cheese (or whatever variety you prefer)

Instructions:
Scramble the eggs and put them with the cheese in between the two slices of bread.

If you have a panini maker, use it. If not, heat a skillet over medium low heat and spray with cooking spray. Place sandwich in skillet and put a heavy skillet on top of it for a few minutes. Flip the sandwich over, place the skillet on top of it again and cook for a few minutes on that side.

What does the family think? They think it’s so much better to have a panini than a grilled cheese. Isn’t this essentially a grilled cheese with some eggs thrown in there? Even if I give them a choice between a grilled cheese and a cheese panini, they will always pick the panini! Silly kids. 🙂

Leave a Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Breakfast, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Sandwich, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

Roast Beef, Mozzarella and Pepperoncini Panini

So, we are still eating out because most of our furniture is still being stored in the garage. I have been told that we should be able to have the movers come next Saturday…fingers crossed! Here is a yummy panini that I had at our local sandwich/soup shop last night.

Ingredients:
Italian Sandwich Bread
Sliced Deli Roast Beef
Mozzarella
Red Pepper, very thinly sliced
Yellow onion, very thinly sliced (keep in rings)
Pepperoncini, stems cut off and thinly sliced
Capers (optional)
Mayo

Instructions:
Spread a thin layer of mayo on each slice bread. Assemble sandwich with above ingredients using more of less of each ingredient to your taste.

If you have a panini maker, use it. If not, heat a skillet over medium low heat and spray with cooking spray. Place sandwich in skillet and put a heavy skillet on top of it for a few minutes. Flip the sandwich over, place the skillet on top of it again and cook for a few minutes on that side.

What did the family think? I am the only one who had this variety. It was yummy. I have their takeout menu, so I can check off each sandwich as I have it. My goal is to try them all! 🙂

Leave a Comment

Filed under Easy, Sandwich

Lacy Oatmeal Cookies

These cookies are very good and I made them even better by drizzling some chocolate over them…the hubster really likes chocolate. 🙂

Ingredients:
1 cup quick oats
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup salted butter, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Cover baking sheets with foil, then coat with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl combine oats, flour, salt and baking powder. Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside.

In a large bowl combine sugar and butter with an electric mixer at medium speed to form a grainy paste. Add egg and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Add flour mixture and blend just until combined.

Drop dough by teaspoonfuls on baking sheets, 2 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until edges begin to turn golden brown. Let cool and then peel off cookies with fingers.

Be sure to respray baking sheets between batches.

Did I change anything? I melted some chocolate chips in the microwave in a Ziploc bag, snipped the corner of the bag and drizzled the chocolate over the cookies. Everything is better with chocolate, right? 🙂 Also, these cookies SPREAD when they cook. Make sure you only use a teaspoon full of dough and make sure you leave enough space between the cookies.

What did the family think? I think they are yummy and so does our oldest kiddo. I think hubby skipped these and just ate the chocolate chips I bought to melt and drizzle over them.

from Mrs. Fields’ Cookie Book

Leave a Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Desserts, Vegetarian

Eggnog Cookies

I don’t like eggnog, but I do like these very festive cookies.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3/4 cup salted butter, softened
1/2 cup eggnog
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 egg yolks
1 T ground nutmeg

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well with a wire whisk and set aside.

In a large bowl cream sugar and butter with an electric mixer to form a grainy paste. Add eggnog, vanilla and egg yolks and beat at a medium speed until smooth.

Add the flour mixture and beat at a low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, 1 inch apart.

Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until bottoms turn lightly brown.

What did the family think? I am not sure if the family has tried any yet, since most of them went to school for the teachers, but I tasted one (or two) and they are really good. They were especially good right out of the oven with a nice cold glass of milk. 🙂

from Mrs. Fields’ Cookie Book

1 Comment

Filed under After School Snacks, Desserts, Easy, Vegetarian

Roasted Butternut Squash

I love Trader Joe’s! They have pre-packaged already chopped up squash, so all I had to do was add some olive oil, salt and pepper and throw it in the oven. Voila!

Ingredients:
1 butternut squash
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or sage, (optional)
honey or maple syrup, for drizzling (optional)

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Slice the stem off of the top of the squash and remove the bottom. With a strong vegetable peeler, remove and discard the squash’s skin.

Cut the squash in half down the middle. Remove and discard the seeds.

Slice the flesh into 1/4-inch dice and place on a baking sheet lined with foil.

Liberally drizzle with olive oil and season with salt. If desired, sprinkle with the herbs and drizzle with the honey or syrup. Toss to combine.

Roast for about 15-20 minutes.

We had this with fish and a fruit salad.

Did I change anything? I didn’t add any of the optional ingredients. We just had it with olive oil, salt and pepper.

What did the family think? Hubby and I really liked it. Our oldest liked the pieces that hadn’t gotten too mushy. (Some of the pieces were smaller than others, thus they cooked faster.) Our youngest had a bite or two.

from yumsugar.com

Leave a Comment

Filed under Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Vegetarian

Spaghetti Squash with Sausage

I never buy squash because I think it’s going to be a pain in the tush to cook, but this was actually pretty easy.

Ingredients:
1 small spaghetti squash (about 2 pounds)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
8 links hot Italian sausage (pork, chicken or turkey; 1 1/2 pounds)
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Freshly grated parmesan cheese, for topping

Instructions:
Halve the squash lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Put the squash, cut-side up, in a large microwave-safe bowl and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave until tender, about 20 minutes. BE CAREFUL when you take off the plastic. There will be some HOT steam that comes out. Scoop out the flesh into a colander (use a towel to hold the squash) and shred with 2 forks.

Meanwhile, heat a grill pan over medium heat. Grill the sausages, turning, until cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the bell pepper, onion and 1 teaspoon salt and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until the vegetables begin to brown, about 4 more minutes. Toss in the squash and parsley and season with salt and pepper. Serve with the sausages and sprinkle with parmesan.

Did I change anything? I left out the red peppers and I served this with spaghetti sauce, just like I would regular spaghetti.

What did the family think? Everybody ate it! I was a little unsure if our youngest would like it. I knew he would either love it because it’s “spaghetti” or hate it because it’s “squash”. He loved it!

from Food Network

Leave a Comment

Filed under Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian