Thursday, November 29, 2012

Needs more salsa...cilantro died

I have come to the conclusion that I am not supposed to have fresh herbs in my home.  Every time I get them, as soon as I touch them, or use some they die :( !!!  I use a lot of cilantro, and I really don't care for it as much as I use it.  I don't mind the taste, it is really the smell of it that gets to me.  Anyways...

All the recipes that I have been finding on from Pinterest.  I need to make a Rachael Ray recipe, just to say that I have in this year, cause I haven't.  But, Pinterest is addicting, and there is tons of good stuff on there.  If you don't have an account you really should.  Now where I find time to work, cook, blog, and do Pinterest I have no idea.  There are tons of other projects that I need to do, decorating my home and shopping for Christmas are just two of them. Plus I need to get out to the movies and see "Wreck it Ralph".  Plus my boxer needs to go to doggie obedience training.  Where are the hours in the day???  One thing at a time I guess!!!

And one more thing before I talk about food:  If you are coupon shopping and you shop at Target you might as well forget it.  If they have a good deal going on, then you might be able to save, but really it is so expensive.  I saved only 12$ and spent 124$.  Was not happy with that at all!!!

Who doesn't like a recipe that starts off witeh the word "Cheesy"?  If you don't you really don't know what you are missing!!!  I keep so much shredded cheese on had that I just have it when I need it (most of the time, this time around Hubby had to buy some, and we are through half the bag).  So if you aren't hooked on cheesy, what about rice?  Okay, unless you can't eat it, but I love rice.  It really takes any flavor, and even alone it tastes so good, for the most part I think that RICE is better than pasta.

I made "Cheesy Chicken and Rice Bake" it was so good.  But, I didn't have cilantro, and I didn't have enough cheese.  I also think this dish could use a few more things.  You can find the recipe here:
 http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/cheesy-chicken-and-rice-bake/

or here:


Recipe Description


A quick, easy and healthy casserole to throw together when you’re pressed for time!

Preparation Instructions


Preheat oven to 350F. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for cilantro and mix thoroughly to combine. Make sure the yogurt and cheese are stirred in throughout the entire bowl. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Transfer to an oven-safe dish and top with extra cheese if you would like. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Garnish with chopped cilantro.
To make this process easier, I always have cooked chicken on hand, and use Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice. If you have those two things, this can be throw together in a matter of minutes! It can also easily be made ahead of time and reheated.

Ingredients

  • 2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
  • 4 cups Cooked Brown Rice
  • ¾ cups Frozen Corn
  • 15 ounces, fluid Can Black Beans, Drained And Rinsed
  • 1 cup Plain Greek Yogurt (or Sour Cream)
  • 4 ounces, fluid Can Green Chilis
  • ½ cups Salsa
  • 1 cup Low-fat Cheddar Cheese, Plus More For Topping
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Cilantro For Garnish

Crystal's Recommendations: Cheese, Cheese, Cheese and more cheese!!!  I used sour cream!  I needed the Cilantro.  And I am gonna say onions, 2 cups sour cream and 2 cups salsa.  There is just so much rice that it really absorbed the sauce.  Enjoy!!!!

Monday, November 19, 2012

If only I could make money from Blogging....

A thirty minute meal, that wasn't from Rachael Ray!!!  

I would love to make a ton of money from cooking and then blogging about what I have done.  I would get to do all the things that I love, hanging out with kids, hanging out with my fur babies, cooking, writing, and making money!!  Since I can't do that, I will just write for fun and the love of cooking and improving.

So the title is my hits and misses, and lately I have had a lot of hits, and hardly any misses.  I think I am getting better.  That's what I want to say about it anyways!!!  

This recipe is totally easy, and totally simple and takes like 30 minutes or less to make if you use my cheats!!!!

It's called Cilantro Lime Shrimp and cheat number one is:
get steamed shrimp from the seafood counter.  You can put it in the fridge for about a day or two, and you just heat it up in the pan.  Cheat number two is keep garlic on hand.  The longer you have it the more garlic-y it tastes!!!  

You can find the recipe here: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2010/03/cilantro-lime-shrimp.html
Or here:

Ingredients: 
  • 2 tsp olive oil
  • 2 lb shrimp, shelled and deviened
  • 6 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 lime
  • salt and pepper 

Directions: 
    Heat a large frying pan on medium-high heat. Add oil to the pan, when hot addshrimp. Season with salt and pepper. When the shrimp is cooked on one side, about 2 minutes, turn over and add garlic. Sauté another minute or two until shrimp is cooked, careful not to overcook. Remove from heat. Squeeze lime all over shrimp and tosswith cilantro. Serve hot.

    I served it over rice.  It is really yummy, the lime gives it a really good flavor. It's almost Thanksgiving, a day where you will no doubt spend all day in the kitchen.  Don't do so before hand!!!!

    Sunday, November 18, 2012

    I don't like Lasagna....

    It's almost that time, time to stuff your face with TURKEY, and then try and sleep for a little bit so you can get up at 10pm and hit the black Friday sales to try and stuff your tree!!!  (I LOVE BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPING!!! IT IS MY FAVE).  I wanted to get all my grocery shopping for the week done today, so that I don't have to do it anytime this week cause everything is crazy.  (I still have to get dog and cat food and cilantro, I can never win!!)  While at the grocery store with the hubby, he asks, "What are you making for dinner?"  I told him Lasagna, and he was not pleased at all.  He wanted me to make anything but that, until I explained that it was Enchilada Lasagna, and he was okay with that.  

    Let me tell you that this recipe is better than okay, it is AWESOME!!!!  Every bite was good, and we ate it way too fast, but it was soooo good.  This dish does have ingredients that you normally would not put together.  (A can of Cream of Celery soup, wouldn't think Enchilada there.)  But, the dish blends so well that you don't notice what is mixed together.  

    You can find the recipe here: http://www.mogwaisoup.com/2009/08/enchilada-lasagna.html

    Or you can find it here:
    Enchilada Lasagna

    Ingridients:

    2 tbsp of vegetable oil
    1 lbs chicken breast, chopped to bite pieces
    5 cups of mexican blend cheese
    1 can of cream of celery
    1 can of cream of chicken
    1 1/2 cups sour cream
    1/4 cup canned and chopped green chillies (drained)
    small corn tortillas
    1 tsp cumin
    2 tsp salt
    1/2 tsp pepper

    Directions:
    Brown chicken in a pan on 2 tbsp of oil. Season with salt and pepper. 
    In a bowl combine cream of celery, cream of chicken, sour cream and green chillies.
    Prepare the dish you will assemble the lasagna in. Put 1/2 cup of cream mix on the bottom of the baking dish and spread. Layer a row of tortillas followed with cream mix, chicken and cheese. You should be able to make 3 layers like this. Last layer doesn't need chicken, just a ton of cheese. preheat the oven to 425 degrees and let it bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is nice and melted and golden brown on top.

    She doesn't tell you where to put the Cumin, and the sauce without it doesn't taste as good so I added it to the sour cream/soup mixture.  I also used really big tortillas, and just cut them in half.  I like the Chi Chi's ones the best, they come out much tastier, and not dry.  This dish is so beyond good.  Hubby is eating left overs for lunch tomorrow!!!  So make this dish, I promise you will not be dissapointed!!!!


    Wednesday, November 14, 2012

    I could live without it...

    Being open and honest with you about my kitchen experiences was the point of my blog.  This post in no exception.  Let me first start off with a coupon/sales paper experience.  I am NOT an extreme couponer, I love to save, but I don't go out of my way like the people on the show.  I have, However been waiting all year for the Thanksgiving food sale paper's to come to my door.  Last year they were so awesome, that I got enough canned veggies that I didn't run out until about July of this year.  Mainly I was waiting for the Target paper, I got canned veggies, gravy, and "Stove Top" Stuffing all for 49 cents a piece.  When I got my paper this year, I was more than a little bummed, the costs of the veggies went up 20 cents.  The cost of the gravy went up to a $1.  And the Stuffing is not even on sale.  I was more than a little bummed.  I have also been waiting all year for the meat sales.  They usually start in September and go on until Christmas.  I can stock up enough meat to get Hubby and I through the winter (I usually don't get enough chicken, and have to get that again.)  Again no such luck, there is a sale on Turkey 59 cents per pound, however you have to buy $30 worth of groceries.  I am saying this because I want to get a little bit political...if every thing is going up how are we expected to get through, and make the economy good again?  Gas is going up and down, and food is effected by that.  I just don't get what he did in the last four years?  Health care is high, I don't go to the doctor because I am not sure if a) i am going to be covered or b) if it is going to cost me an arm and a leg? I am middle class, and I am suffering most days.  I can pay my bills, I work, I don't cheat; but my tax breaks are being taken away, and health care sucks...please tell me how this is going to work...

    Okay I am off my soap box now...I found a recipe that I think is Sandra Lee.  (Her and her semi homemade drive me crazy.)  Anyways...I feel like it was lacking flavor and the special thing that makes you wanna go back for more.  It's called Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken.  But I added some things to it.  

    You can find the recipe here :http://www.semihomemademom.com/2012/02/slow-cooker-salsa-chicken.html

    Or here:

    Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (frozen is fine)
    1 cup salsa
    1 can condensed cream of chicken soup
    1 packet taco seasoning
    1/2 cup sour cream
    6 tortillas


    Place chicken in the bottom of your slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning on chicken. In a bowl, combine soup and salsa. Pour over chicken. Cook on high 4 hours. Shred chicken with two forks and stir in sour cream. Serve on tortillas or as desired.


    One thing I did, I used bone in Chicken.  But I cooked it for the four hours and it did not shred.  I fried up onions, and added lettuce and cheese to me it just didn't have the kick.  Hubby ate two of them.  I am taking what I have left over to my grandparents to see if they like it, and as a thank you for taking care of my puppies.  You can try this but, I don't recommend it but you might like it.  

    Sunday, November 11, 2012

    He took left overs?!?!?!?!?!

    I'm in a normal font kind of mood!!!  This blog has been a long time coming, I just didn't have time to write it!  I had a wonderful weekend at the besties house, she made a Pinterest dinner and it was amazing, I might be trying it too.

    I made this Thursday night, after shopping..I should have waited to make it because it took a long time to make.  But, it looked so good on my screen that I couldn't pass it up.  John Wayne Casserole is the name of my Joe (hahah).  It was so amazing.  I really ate more than I should.  It's not that hard to make, but it does take a little bit to make it.  Not a 30min meal, cause that is how long it takes to cook.

    You can get the recipe here : http://www.navywifecook.com/2012/07/john-wayne-casserole.html

    Or here:

    MONDAY, JULY 16, 2012

    John Wayne Casserole


    Soooo, yeah. The only reason I made this recipe was because it's called 'John Wayne Casserole'. That's it. My husband loves John Wayne. In fact, Jesse's middle name is Wayne because of Heath's love for 'The Duke' (I wanted to name him Jesse Barret J. so his initials would be JBJ, like Jon Bon Jovi, but Heath said over his dead body. Whatever).

    I had no idea what to expect with this. I wasn't expecting much, I'll tell you that, but it actually turned out to be really good. That sour cream/mayo/cheddar cheese mixture that gets poured on top absolutely makes it. It's really good, and moistens up the dish a bit...adds a subtle creaminess to the dish.

    I'm posting the recipe as I found it originally, but for my little family of three, I cut it in half and made it in an 8x8 baking dish (I usually cut 9x13 dishes in half the first time I make them just in case it sucks, then I don't have to throw out a large amount of food). However if you're feeding any more then two adults and a small child, you'll want to stick with the original directions.

    Not sure what makes this John Wayne's casserole, but it was certainly good, and something that Heath asked to be added to our favorites...so that's a win!

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    'John Wayne Casserole'
    Source: Adapted from Mississippi Magazine

    Ingredients

    2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained
    1 (1.25-ounce) packet taco seasoning
    4 ounces sour cream
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    4 ounces mayonnaise
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    8 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
    1 yellow onion, sliced
    2 cups biscuit mix
    2 tomatoes, sliced
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    1 green bell pepper, sliced
    1 (4-ounce) can sliced jalapeno peppers
     
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    Directions

    1. Heat oven to 325. Brown ground beef and add taco seasoning and water, according to packet instructions; set aside.

    2. In a separate bowl, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, 4 ounces of cheddar cheese, and half of the onions; set aside.

    3. Stir biscuit mix and water (directions on box) to form soft dough. Pat dough on the bottom and one-half-inch up the sides of an 9 x 13 in. greased casserole dish.

    4. Saute remaining onions and bell peppers until slightly tender.

    5. On top of biscuit mix, evenly distribute ingredients in the following order: ground beef, tomato slices, green peppers, onions, jalapeno peppers, sour cream mixture and end with remaining shredded cheese.

    6. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until edges of dough are lightly browned.





    Changes I would make:  More breading, that part was so good, and it went so well with the rest of the fixings.  And more of the sour cream mixture, Hubby and I could have ate that alone.  Hubby took it for lunch the next day and he never eats left overs.  Yum Yumm-o