Grilled Pork Chops w/ Tomatoes and Garlic

*if you don't like tomatoes, other veggies could easily be substituted

1/2 stick butter - room temperature

1 clove finely chopped garlic

1 tsp. thyme

4 (1" thick) pork chops

2 lbs. cherry tomatoes

Combine butter, thyme, garlic - set aside. Season chops with S&P and grill. Divide tomatoes (or veggies) into 2 foil packets, season with S&P, and grill 8 minutes. Top chops with tomatoes and garlic butter to serve. Mashed potatoes or a side of pasta is great with this! Serves 4

No-Pain Lo Mein

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3-4 chicken breasts cut into thin strips
1/2 cup snow peas
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into match stick size pieces
1 can of water chestnuts, drained
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 pound mushrooms
4 green onion, thinly sliced on a diagonal
2 T ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
red pepper flakes
1 pound lo mein noodles or thin spaghetti, cooked to al dente and drained well
1/2 soy sauce
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
sesame seeds
salt to taste


While the pasta is cooking, brown meat in wok or large skillet over high heat in 1 T sesame oil. Remove from pan. Add vegetable oil and crushed red pepper. Stir fry snow peas, onion, mushrooms, red pepper, mushrooms, and water chestnuts for one minute. Remove from pot with a slotted spoon and add to meat. Dump drained, cooled pasta into wok. Add green onions and half your cooked veggies and meat. Toss and fry the mixture until noodles and veggies are combined. Drizzle with a couple tablespoons soy sauce and 1 T sesame oil. Combine well. Sprinkle with salt to taste. Dump into serving dish and top with remaining meat and veggies.
Adapted from a Rachael Ray recipe

Cashew-Crusted Chicken on Basil-Pineapple Rice

From Cooking Light

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted cashews
2 tablespoons garlic-seasoned breadcrumbs
4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
Cooking spray
1 (3 1/2-ounce) bag precooked long-grain rice (such as Success)
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

Place nuts and breadcrumbs in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until the crumbs measure 2/3 cup. Pour nut mixture into a shallow dish. Brush chicken with egg white; dredge chicken in nut mixture. Spread the pineapple in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange chicken over pineapple, and bake at 450° for 14 minutes or until chicken is done, turning after 7 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice according to package directions. Remove chicken from dish. Stir rice, basil, and salt into pineapple. Serve with chicken.

Chicken with Pesto Pasta

This is something that I make quite often. Everyone in my family seems to like it.

Ingredients:
2-3 chicken breasts, thawed and cut into one inch cubes
1 red pepper
1 red onion
1 pound angel hair pasta
olive oil for sauteing
For the Pesto:
2 cups fresh basil leaves or a combination of basil and parsley
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup pine nuts or walnuts
1/4 pound Parmigiano or Romano Cheese


Bring a pot of water to a boil. When the water is boiling, add pasta and cook until done (8 min or so.) Clean onion and pepper and cut into chunks. Heat some olive oil in a pan and then saute pepper and onion together until tender. Meanwhile, rub oil and salt and pepper on chicken. Add chicken to a pan and cook the chicken until is is done in the center and browned on the outside. While everything is cooking, make the pesto. For the pesto-Toast the pine nuts. Heat oil and garlic in the microwave for 20 seconds on high. Then add all of the ingredients into the food processor until paste forms. Pesto should be used at room temp.
Once pasta is finished, drain and return to pot. Add pesto and mix well with noodles. You may want to add more oil. Add chicken, onions, and pepper. Mix. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

** You can buy a variety of already made pesto at the store instead of making your own. And also, add any veggies that you like for a variation.

Spahetti and Venison Meatballs

Ingredients
1 pound spaghetti
Salt, for pasta water
pasta sauce
Meatballs:
1 pound ground vension( you can also use ground beef, but won't need the sausage)
1/2 pound ground sausage
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, chopped
Salt and pepper

Directions:Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place a large pot of water on to boil for spaghetti. When it boils, add salt and pasta and cook.
Mix beef and Worcestershire, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Roll meat into 1 1/2 inch medium-sized meatballs and place on nonstick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet greased with extra-virgin olive oil. Bake balls 10 to 12 minutes, until no longer pink.
Drain pasta and retuen to pot. Add pasta sauce. Put meatballs on each individual plate. Serve with bread or garlic bread (and some good chianti!)

Taco Soup

I got this from Beth H. and it is easy and really good. Everyone likes this in our house.

2 cans chicken, strained
1 carton chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 can Rotel, strained
1 can black beans, strained
2 cups frozen corn
2 Tbsp. of olive oil
1 Tbsp cumin
1/8 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
tortillas cut in strips

Heat oil and spices in pot. Add chicken and coat with the spice mixture. Add 1/2 chicken broth, 1/2 a can of tomato sauce, beans, corn, and Rotel. Bring to a boil. Add more broth and sauce until you reach desired consistency. Simmer until dinner. Add tortilla strips before serving.
I also have served with fritos and also in a bread bowl. All ways are really good.

Lasagna Pizza Cups

Yield:Makes 10 cups

Ingredients
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (15-oz.) jar pizza sauce
1 (7.5-oz.) can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
3/4 cup (3 oz.) shredded mozzarella cheese

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cook first 3 ingredients in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes or until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain well. Return meat mixture to skillet; stir in 1 cup pizza sauce. Remove from heat.
2. Press biscuits on bottom and up sides of lightly greased muffin cups. Spoon about 1 rounded tablespoonful meat mixture into each biscuit cup; top with ricotta cheese (about 1 heaping teaspoonful each). Sprinkle with shredded cheese.
3. Bake at 375° for 18 to 20 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven, and gently run a knife around outer edge of pizza cups to loosen from sides of pan. Remove cups from pan, using a spoon.
4. Place remaining pizza sauce in a small microwave-safe glass bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Microwave at HIGH 30 to 45 seconds or until thoroughly heated. Serve pizza cups with warm sauce.
Southern Living, AUGUST 2008

Citrus Shrimp Tacos

Prep: 25 min., Chill: 10 min., Grill: 6 min. Soak wooden skewers in water at least 30 minutes before grilling to keep them from burning.
Yield:Makes 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients
2 pounds unpeeled, large raw shrimp
20 (12-inch-long) skewers
2 tablespoons Southwest seasoning
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
16 (8-inch) soft taco-size flour tortillas, warmed
1 head iceberg lettuce, finely shredded
1 head radicchio, finely shredded
Garnish: fresh cilantro leaves

Preparation
1. Peel shrimp; devein, if desired. Thread shrimp onto skewers.
2. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high). Combine Southwest seasoning and garlic in a long shallow dish; add lime juice, lemon juice, and shrimp, turning to coat. Cover and chill 10 minutes. Remove shrimp from marinade, discarding marinade.
3. Grill shrimp, without grill lid, 2 to 3 minutes on each side or just until shrimp turn pink. Remove shrimp from skewers. Serve in warm tortillas with next 4 ingredients. Garnish, if desired.
Note: For testing purposes only, we used Emeril's Southwest Seasoning.
Southwest Cream Sauce: Whisk together 1 (16-oz.) container sour cream; 1 garlic clove, minced; 2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion; 1 tsp. chili powder; 1/2 tsp. ground cumin; 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper; and 1/4 tsp. salt. Whisk in 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro and 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice until smooth. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Makes about 2 cups; Prep: 10 min.
Southern Living, AUGUST 2008

Baked Chilean Sea Bass (or other mild fish)

You can use this recipe for as many fish fillets as you need - I like to get the thinner pieces rather than the really thick, short ones.

Preheat oven to 400.  Line a baking sheet with foil and place fish on foil.  Lightly drizzle some olive oil over top and using a brush, spread it evenly over each piece.  Salt and pepper each piece generously.  Place a couple of thin lemon slices on each piece.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Serve with your favorite veggies or rice.

Spaghetti w/Broccoli and Lemon

 from Living Simple - serves 4

12 oz spaghetti (I used the wheat)

3 Tbs. olive oil

4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 pkg. frozen broccoli

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

1 lemon, zest and juice

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta per the instructions.  Reserve 1 cup water, drain pasta, return to pot.

Heat oil over medium heat and add garlic - cook 1-2 minutes.  Add broccoli, red pepper, salt and cook 1-2 minutes until broccoli is tender.  Add that to the pasta with lemon juice, Parmesan and the reserved water.  Cook 2-3 minutes.  Sprinkle with lemon zest and serve.  Also good with chicken or shrimp.

Rosemary Chicken & Zucchini

This is from Real Simple and looks great!

1 lb. new potatoes
2 carrots
2 zucchini
1 bunch Rosemary (I Tbs.)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
S&P
2 Tbs. Olive oil
2 Tbs. Whole grain mustard

Heat oven to 400. Quarter potatoes and cut carrots and zucchini into 2-inch sticks. Mix vegetables in bowl with olive oil, mustard, rosemary, S&P. Pour into 9x13 dish and place chicken on top (season chicken with S&P first). Roast for 25 minutes, toss vegetables and turn chicken, continue roasting until chicken is done (about 20-25 more minutes.

Spiced Mini Burgers with Couscous

This is really quick and easy and we all eat it. It's a nice change from the usual ground beef options.
1 10 oz box couscous
1 lb ground beef
salt and pepper
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 Tbl oregano
4 Tbl olive oil
6 green onions, sliced
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
1 seedless cucumber, sliced into half moons
3 Tbl lemon juice
1/4 cup feta
1 8 oz container hummus and pita chips

Cook the couscous according to package directions.
Form the beef into 12 small 1/2 inch thick patties. Sprinkle them with 1 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp pepper, the cumin and oregano.
Heat 1 Tbl oil in skilllet over medium heat. Add patties and cook to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium.
Combine the couscous, green onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, lemon juice, 1 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper, most of the feta and remaining oil in a large bowl.
Divide couscous and mini-burgers among plates, and sprinkle a little feta over the burgers.
Serve with hummus and pita chips.

Recipe courtesy Real Simple April 2008

Meaty Cheesey Manicotti

From Southern Living
Meaty Cheese Manicotti Prep: 15 min., Cook: 20 min., Bake: 30 min., Broil: 3 min. A
n 8-ounce package of manicotti shells has 14 shells; a couple may break, so we count on using 12 shells in this recipe.
1 (8-ounce) package uncooked manicotti shells
1/2 pound hot Italian sausage
1/2 pound ground round
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 cups whipping cream
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano, drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse in cold water. Drain. Place in a single layer on a wire rack; set aside.
Remove casings from sausage, and discard. Cook sausage, ground round, and onion in a large skillet, stirring until meat crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
Add wine to skillet, stirring to loosen browned bits; bring to a boil. Add whipping cream and next 3 ingredients; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often, 15 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; cover and set aside.
Combine meat mixture, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Spoon mixture evenly into 12 manicotti shells; arrange shells in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
Bake, covered, at 350° for 20 minutes. Uncover and pour cream mixture evenly over shells; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 10 more minutes. Broil, 5 1/2 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned.

Southestern Chicken and Black Bean Burritos

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp ground cumin1 tsp chili powder
a couple shakes cayenne pepper sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot or Tabasco
1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 medium spanish onion chopped (I just used regular yellow onion)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz.) black beans, drained and rinsed
3 Tbsp smoky barbecue sauce
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 heart of romaine, shredded6 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped
4 large flour tortillas, flavored or plain
Rub chicken with cumin, chili powder, and cayenne sauce. Heat a griddle pan to high. Cook chicken breasts 4 minutes on each side and remove from heat.While chicken is cooking, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Go once around the pan with oil. Cook onions and garlic until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add beans and barbecue sauce. Chop cooked chicken breasts and drop into barbecued beans. Heat mixture through. Season with salt and pepper.Place a tortilla on a plate and pile chicken and beans in center. Top with lettuce, scallions, and tomatoes. Wrap, roll, and repeat with remaining tortillas and filling. Serve with chips and salsa.

Chicken Saltimbocca

6 (3-ounce) chicken cutlets, pounded to evenly flatten
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 paper-thin slices prosciutto
1 (10-ounce) box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 (14-ounce) can low-salt chicken broth
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Place the chicken cutlets flat on the work surface. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Lay 1 slice of prosciutto atop each chicken cutlet.
Squeeze the frozen spinach to remove the excess water. Season the spinach with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, toss the spinach with 1 tablespoon of oil to coat.
Arrange an even, thin layer of spinach atop the prosciutto slices. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over each. Beginning at the short tapered end, roll up each chicken cutlet as for a jellyroll. Secure with a toothpick.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a heavy large skillet over high heat. Add the chicken and cook just until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add the chicken broth and lemon juice, and scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Bring the liquid to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Cover and simmer until the chicken is just cooked through, about 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Simmer the cooking liquid over high heat until it is reduced to about 2/3 cup, about 5 minutes. Season the cooking liquid with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove toothpicks from the chicken. Drizzle the reduced cooking liquid over the chicken and serve immediately.

Mustard Roasted Chicken

1 pkg chicken breasts
3 Tbs. whole grain mustard
2 Tbs. soy sauce
4 carrots, cut in half (or use the little ones from the bag)
1 medium fennel bulb, cut in wedges
1 red onion, cut in wedges
8 sprigs Thyme
2 Tbs. olive oil

Heat oven to 400. Combine mustard, soy sauce, 1/4 tsp. pepper in bowl. Add chicken and coat. Combine carrots, fennel, onion, thyme, oil, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper in roasting pan. Add chicken to vegetables. Roast until cooked - about 45 minutes.

I like to serve with mashed potatoes.

You Won't Be Single For Long Vodka Cream Pasta

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
Coarse salt and pepper
16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
Crusty bread
Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.
Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Pass pasta with crusty bread.

Salt & Pepper Shrimp

Less than 30 minutes / Serves 4-6

1 lb frozen peeled & deveined shrimp
3/4 tsp each salt & pepper
1 Tbs olive oil

Heat oven to 450. In a baking sheet, toss the shrimp with the other ingredients and roast in the oven until bright pink and cooked through (about 15 minutes).

Serve over a salad (I like this with both Casear and mixed greens) or pasta. You can also add some garlic to the shrimp before roasting.

Lemon Chicken with Olives

30 mintutes / Serves 4 / recipe from Real Simple

2 Tbs flour
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp lemon zest, plus 1Tbs lemon juice
1 1/2 lbs chicken cutlets
2 Tbs olive oil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
1 cup pitted green olives (I like the mixed olives)
1/2 cup dry white wine

Mix flour, cumin, zest, salt & pepper on a plate. Pat the chicken dry and dredge in flour mixture. Heat 1 Tbs olive oil in large skillet over med-high heat. Cook the chicken in 2 batches until brown. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out the skillet and return to med heat. Heat the remaining oil and cook shallots until soft. Stir in olives, lemon juice and wine and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan, reduce heat and cook (covered) about 5 mintues. Divide among plates spooning olives, shallots and sauce over top. Serve with brown rice.

Deluxe Chicken Divan

1/3 cup sliced almonds
1 quart chicken stock
1 lemon, zested
2 to 3 sprigs fresh thyme
4 tablespoons butter, divided
1 1/2 cups white rice
1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds chicken breast cutlets, 8 cutlets
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
2 tablespoons plus about 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of pan
6 or 7 large button mushrooms, sliced
1/3 cup half-and-half
1 rounded tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons, a couple sprigs, fresh tarragon, leaves chopped
2 scallions, chopped
Toast almonds in a small skillet until golden. Set aside.
Bring 2 3/4 cups chicken stock, the zest of 1 lemon, thyme sprigs and a tablespoon of butter to a boil in a medium pot with a tight fitting lid. Add rice to water, stir. Return the water to a boil then reduce heat to simmer and cove the pot. Cook 18 minutes or until tender, remove from heat. Remove the thyme sprigs, the leaves will have fallen off in the rice.
While the rice cooks, season chicken with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Dredge chicken in about half cup of flour then discard the rest. Heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 1 tablespoon butter to the large skillet. To the hot butter and oil, add the cutlets and cook 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Remove the meat to a large platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
Return chicken skillet to the heat and add 2 tablespoons butter. Melt butter, add the mushrooms and saute for a couple of minutes. Whisk in 2 rounded tablespoons flour. Cook the flour 1 minute then whisk in 1/3 cup white wine, a couple of glugs. Cook off wine, 30 seconds, then whisk in 1 1/4 cups of chicken stock (remainder of the quart) then the half-and-half. When sauce bubbles, stir in mustard and tarragon and let sauce simmer and thicken 2 to 3 minutes. Stir scallions into rice and fluff with fork. Make a bed of rice on each dinner plate. Top with a serving of steamed asparagus then 2 cutlets of chicken. Cover the chicken with the tarragon sauce, allowing the gravy to spill over edges of rice. Sprinkle the plates with toasted nuts.