Category Archives: Easy

December 30, 2010 · 9:59 pm

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.

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Filed under Chicken, Easy, Everybody Ate It

December 25, 2010 · 10:02 pm

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. 😉

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

· 9:55 pm

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

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

December 22, 2010 · 10:50 pm

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. 🙂

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

· 3:24 pm

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! 🙂

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Filed under Easy, Sandwich

December 17, 2010 · 10:57 pm

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

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Filed under After School Snacks, Desserts, Easy, Vegetarian

December 8, 2010 · 10:34 pm

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

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Filed under Easy, Everybody Ate It, Italian

December 7, 2010 · 9:02 pm

Haricots Verts with Shaved Parmesan

In an attempt to get my children to eat some greens other than salad…

Ingredients:
3/4 pound ready-to-cook haricots verts
2 tablespoons sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 cup shaved parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:
Place the haricots verts in a large microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on high for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and drain, if necessary.

In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and lemon juice. Pour over the haricots verts and toss to coat.

Serve immediately with shaved parmesan and freshly ground pepper.

Did I change anything? I left out the pepper because I forgot it and I didn’t have any parmesan that I could shave, I just had the regular kind in a can. It worked just fine. Also, I didn’t microwave the green beans, I cooked them on the stove.

What did the family think? No one liked this but me, which quite frankly, I am surprised by. Parmesan makes everything taste better…right? Both hubby and our oldest said they would have rather had their green beans plain. Crazy boys.

from Food Network

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Filed under Easy, Side Dish, Six Ingredients or Less, Super Easy to Make, Vegetarian

December 5, 2010 · 9:25 pm

Cat Cora’s Southern Cornbread

I FINALLY got a chance to look through my November issue of Food Network magazine last night. I am always looking for a new cornbread recipe, so I thought I would give this one a try.

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for the pan
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk (shake before measuring)
2 large eggs

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and position a rack in the middle. Butter an 8-inch-square baking pan.

Melt the butter in the microwave in a microwave-safe dish in three 15-second intervals on high or in a small pan on the stove. Set it aside to cool.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and the eggs. Add the melted butter. Add the flour-cornmeal mixture and stir just until combined. Pour the batter into the pan. Bake until the cornbread just begins to brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 23 minutes. Cool for about 10 minutes before serving.

We had this with chili and some grapes.

What did the family think? Everyone liked it and decided it was much better than the last time I made homemade cornbread. I grew up eating Jiffy cornbread, which is fine and certainly inexpensive, but cornbread is so easy I really would prefer to make my own. Also, everyone decided this cornbread is really moist, so if you like your cornbread dry and crumbly, this is NOT the cornbread for you.

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Filed under Bread, Definitely Making it Again, Easy, Everybody Ate It, Vegetarian

December 4, 2010 · 9:02 pm

Maple Teriyaki Salmon

I hate it when I get ready to cook something and I get the recipe out and realize I was supposed to have been marinating it for the last three hours, but dinner needs to be on the table in an hour. That happened to me this evening, so I tweaked this recipe a little and it still came out great.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup apple juice
1/3 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 (8 ounce) salmon fillets

Instructions:
Spray cooking pan with cooking spray.

Put salmon in pan and then add the rest of the ingredients.

Bring to a boil. Cover pan with lid and reduce heat to medium. Cook for about ten minutes or until fish is cooked through.

What did the family think? Hubby and I liked it. It was very flavorful and tender.

from allrecipes.com

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