Chicken Fingers

Chicken
egg
bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese
paprika

Cut chicken into strips. Mix bread crumbs, cheese (i like lots), and paprika. Dip chicken in eggs and then cheese mixture and cook in oiled skillet. OR bake at 350 for 30 min. Above I served with sweet potato fries and cooked fresh green beans.

Chicken and Chilies

I got this off of Chalonn's friends blog "On my menu". I like it b/c its, easy, simple and tasty.

2-3 chicken breasts (or can)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped or minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 can tomato sauce
1 can black (or pinto) beans
1 can chopped chilies
1 tsp chili powder (or less)
1/2 tsp gr. cumin

Cube or shred chicken. (As always, I'm a big fan of putting chicken in the crock pot for a couple of hours and then shredding it when I'm ready to use it. So easy.) Add all ingredients. Serve over brown rice. Top with sour cream, cheese, or avocado.

Chicken Penne Pasta Bake

I got this recipe from Kraft Family Food Magazine, and just changed it a little to make it my own.

1 pkg. whole wheat penne pasta
1 pkg. spinach leaves
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp. dried basil leaves
1 jar spaghetti sauce (i used the bottom of a can that i had, and also a small can tom. sauce)
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (I had cheddar and it was yummy)
Grated Parmesan cheese

Heat oven to 375F. Cook pasta. Cook and stir chicken and basil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Dice chicken then add sauce and tomatoes; bring to boil. Simmer 3 minutes. (the original recipe adds 2 oz of cream cheese here, i'm sure it would be yummy, i didn't use it). Add spinach (chop if desired) and let it cook down. Mix drained pasta and chicken mixture. Pour half of pasta into baking dish, sprinkle cheese. Add remaining pasta, sprinkle cheese. Add Parm. cheese as desired. I actually topped with some feta cheese. Bake 20 min.

Teriyaki Chicken salad

Chicken breasts or tenders
Teriyaki Sauce
salad "fixins" (lettuce/spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, avacado, carrots, walnuts/almonds, fetta cheese, WHATEVER floats your boat).
Your favorite dressing or vinaigrette

Directions: (Ok. Before you get worried that your husband is not going to fill up on a salad, don't. This is so yummy and you can give them a man portion of chicken. You can also add a side of sweet potatoes/pots or rolls or something. Also, last time we had this Jackson was totally into it. So maybe kids will eat it too since it's packed with choices.)
Cook chicken in a pan and pour Teriyaki Sauce over chicken so that it soaks flavor. Cut up whatever else you are going to add to your salad.(I like to make a plate for each person so that I can make them look pretty :) Put chicken over salad and enjoy. Seriously, it's so tasty.

Something new

Wow. Long time no blog. I was talking to Chelise the other night about some new recipes I've tried and decided to post some. So here it goes.

Thai Peanut Pasta
Linguini (I just use whatever I have)
1 lb. cooked and cubed chicken
1 can pinapple chunks drained
Handful of snow peas

Sauce: (serves 2)
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 Tbsp. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 garlic clove, minced or chopped.
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. crushed red peppers

Cook pasta and drain. Add chicken, pineapple, snow peas and sauce to noodles (or add it all to the sauce and serve on top of the pasta).
Sauce: Saute garlic, add chicken broth and PB until PB melts then add other ingredients. The red peppers are a little hot for me so I usually put it on the table so that we can serve to taste, I use a pinch.

A Peak At Our Dinner Table

I think we eat a little different than you with children. I keep things pretty simple and fast. But here is a look at last weeks table events:
-Dinner at Ashley's with BAKED SALMON, spiced potato chunks, fruit salad...delicious
-ROTISSERIE CHICKEN (purchased), green salad, watermelon,
-BBQ SHREDDED BEEF (cook roast in crock till very tender, add BBQ sauce recipe in family book) on buns with veg tray and baked chips and apples
-CHICKEN SALAD (use canned chicken or grilled chicken pieces, grapes, slivered almonds, celery, miracle whip), cantaloupe rings, bread & jam
-ENCHILADAS (recipe in family book) with lettuce and tomatoes, chips and salsa
-El BAJIOS GREEN CHILI CHICKEN SALAD
-Don't forget a little bite of chocolate after each meal for dessert or if visitors will eat it all so you don't have leftovers, be sure to try the ALMOND JOY CAKE in the family book.
-we also love a little fruit...APPLE SALAD (chopped apples, chopped nuts, raisins opt, yogurt)

CHOCOLATE FONDUE OR DIP (great with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, apples)
1-6oz Hershey Chocolate Almond bar 1/3 c whipping cream
1 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp margarine/ butter
1 c mini marshmallows
cook in double boiler so won't burn, till melted and blended. Serve warm.

A WEEKS WORTH OF DUERDEN FAVORITES:

Not in any special order...

Tostadas, Soft Tacos or Burritos (whatever you want to call them)
Tortillas (we like wheat)
Cheese
Put tortillas on hot pan to make them crusty and melt cheese on top (like Cafe Rio baby!) Take off pan and add any or all of the following: refried beans, black beans, fresh tomatoes, green or red peppers, avacado, sour cream, salsa, turkey burger, etc.

Homeade Hamburger & Fries
Hamburgers
Remember how we used to have homeade hamburgers every Saturday night? Well recently we started making these and they are delish!
Hamburger or Turkeyburger(how ever much you need)
Minced onion, garlic powder and anything else in your spice cupboard you'd like.
Mix burger and spices. I like to make patties on wax paper so that I don't have to touch the meat.
Fries (my weakness, these are better than fast food)
In a big bowl mix oil (about 1/4 cup or less), and any spices you want (we like: minced onion, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, Season salt, whatever). Add cut potatoes (I like to cut them thin like real fries) and stir them around (or shake them in a tupperware) to coat them. Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes.
OR
Sweet Potato Fries (yum!)
Do the same as above except the only spice I add is a little Cayenne pepper to the oil.
This meal is also good with cooked, fresh green beans.

Baked Chimichangas
1lb chicken or turkey burger
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder
taco seasoning (to taste)
3/4 cup shredded cheese
1 (4oz) can green chili peppers
1/2 cup snipped cilantro
12 large flour or wheat tortillas

Brown meat, add onion, garlic, chili powder and taco seasoning to taste. Drain any liquid. Add cheese, chili peppers, and cilantro. Assemble like a burrito and place in baking dish. Sprinkle cheese and cilantro on top for garnish. Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.


BLT's
I don't think you need a recipe for this one. But I would suggest adding avacado.

Pizzas
Make pizzas with your favorite toppings on flour or wheat tortillas. Bake at 400 for about 10-15 minutes or until edges are crisp.

Breakfast for Dinner
Sometimes we'll have German pancakes, or eggs and hashbrowns, or our favorite hearty waffle/pancake recipe from Michelle, who got it from Katie. (Hope you don't mind that we share it Michelle)

Pancake/Waffle Mix
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup instant milk
3 tbsp bkg powder
2 tbsp cinnamon (or more)
5 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
Mix ingredients and store in container or ziplock.

To made pancakes or waffles:
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil or applesauce
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water
Beat eggs, add oil, mix and water. Makes 10 pancakes or waffles.


Chenae's AYAYAY! Tortilla Soup
Cooked chicken, shredded with a fork. (OR THIS CAN BE A VEGITARIAN DISH IF YOU DON'T WANT CHICKEN)
1/2 of an onion
1 clove of garlic
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 cups of chicken broth (or water with bullion cubes)
lime juice (to taste)
taco seasoning (to taste)
1 can corn
1 can white hominy (opt)
1 can black beans (opt)
1 avacado
cilantro
shredded cheese
corn tortillas (cut with pizza cutter into strips and bake spread out on cookie sheet at 400 for 10 min or until crisp)
Cook & Shred chicken, set aside. Saute onion and garlic, then add chicken again. Add tomatoes, broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, corn, hominy, and beans and a handful of chopped cilantro. Simmer until hot (its not rocket science right?). When you serve it, top it with cheese, crisp tortilla strips, cilantro and (drum roll please) avacado.
This is my all time favorite meal and I'm Mat's favorite chef when I make it.


If you can't tell...we like Mexican food. I think it's my way of coping without Cafe Rio. I'm always looking for good ones, so send any my way!

Crock Pot Thai Chicken

Mat and I tried a new recipe last night and really liked it. It was REALLY easy (gotta love the crock pot!) and it was different. Check it out.

6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts, thighs or tenders
3/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy...i like crunchy)
1 tsp ginger (opt)
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp lime juice

My opinion: I would consider doubling the sauce...last night we wished we had more sauce with the chicken.

Put all the ingredients in a crock pot on low for 6-8 hrs. Garnish with cilantro, scallions and/or peanuts. Serve on rice (you can also make rice with coconut milk by doing 1 cup rice, 1 cup water, 1 cup coconut milk).