Tater Tot Pie

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 medium onion 

1 Tbs butter

1 bag tater tots

1 large can 

I chopped the only onion I had, sauteed it in a little butter, then added the now defrosted hamburger, seasoned with some garlic salt and pepper, and browned it up like I was making taco meat.

While the burger was browning, I took to the task of spraying a 9x13 cake pan with non stick spray. Then I stood each of those cute little tater tots on end and lined that pan all sorts of orderly.  And pretty.

When the burger was done, I drained the excess grease and added my large can of cream of mushroom soup and a 1/2 cup of milk.  When the soupy burger mixture was hot and steamy, I poured it across the tots and then added a layer of shredded cheese to the top.

I baked it at 400° for about 40 minutes.  When the dinger went off, I proclaimed dinner was served.

The 16 year old wouldn't eat it.  The 18 year old said it was delicious. The Man and I decided it was good enough to fill us up but it wasn't going on the permanent what sounds good for dinner menu.

Blackened Oven Chicken

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (if you don’t want really spicy chicken, cut this to 1 1/2 teaspoons)
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground pepper
1 teaspoon onion (or garlic) powder

8 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

This recipe will yield enough seasoning to coat 8 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts. 

Photo from Google Images

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside (you can also make this seasoning and put it in an old spice jar).

Wash and pat dry your chicken, lightly spray each side with cooking/baking spray (like Pam), coat in the seasoning (I sprinkled it on with a spoon then patted it in with my fingers covering all parts of the meat)

Heat a cast iron frying pan for about 5 minutes.  Place the chicken in the hot pan and cook it for 1 minute on each side.  Then place it in a baking pan (lightly sprayed also with cooking/baking spray)

Bake in oven on 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the size of your chicken breast.  Chicken is done with cut in center and juices run clear and meat is no longer pink. 

Serve with practically anything.  We like it with garlic potatoes and a green salad.

Tortellini and Beans

1 ( 9 oz.) package cheese filled tortellini
1 can white beans (cannellini beans or white great northern)
¾ cup Feta cheese
4 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large fresh tomato chopped
4 cups baby spinach

Cook tortellini to package directions. Drain and using same pan, heat butter and oil until butter melts. Add beans and the drained tortellini to pan and heat until beans are warm. Add the feta cheese and stir until just starting to melt. Remove from heat and add chopped tomato.

Place 1 cup baby spinach on plate and put tortellini mixture on top of spinach. Shave fresh Romano cheese on top mainly for decoration.

Serves 4

Serve with Chicken Parmesan or use chicken filled tortellini.

Chicken al a King

I remember when Swanson used to sell this in a bag that you would boil and then pour over toast.  I like it over rice also. Now I cannot find it anywhere.  I got this recipe from my mother in law and I'm making it this week.  I'll update on whether it is good or not. 

3 Tbs butter
2 Tbs flour
1 cup chicken broth or stock
1 cup milk
2 cups chicken, diced
1 can mushrooms (use whole or you can't pick them out later)
1 small bag frozen peas

In a saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour making a rue. Add chicken broth and milk slowly. Cook, stirring constantly so the sauce doesn't lump up. It will be like gravy. Add chicken, mushrooms (drained) and simmer.  Microwave your peas until they're just about done and then add them as well.  Serve over noodles or toast or rice. 

Garlic Parmesean Chicken

I found this recipe at Albertsons.com and it looked good so I made it last night. Holy delicious!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 cup dry bread crumbs
2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. (I use Pam. I use Pam for everything. I use Pam Butter Flavored. mmmm butterrrr)

In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic.

In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, and pepper.

Dip each chicken breast in the oil mixture and coate evenly, then in the bread crumb mixture. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.

Bake 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Easy Chicken Alfredo

If your life is anything like mine, as soon as you walk in the door (or as soon as your significant other walks in the door), the first thing you hear is "What's for dinner?"

I hardly have time to think about it. However, a quickie meal we have (especially one nights when I forgot to take anything out) is called Easy Chicken Alfredo.

I mean EASY.

1 Jar Alfredo Sauce (I use Ragu Roasted Garlic Parmesan)
1 pkg Egg noodles
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

Cook your noodles and drain. Set aside. Pour the Ragu into a pan, heat up and pour over your noodles. sprinkle on your Parmesan cheese, toss and serve with garlic bread.

Sometimes I will sautéed shrimp and toss that on top. Other times, I use Hormel Spicy Southwest Chicken.

30 Minute Rice Dish (beef or chicken)

This is the quickest, easiest dish you can make.

1 lb Ground Beef
1 pkg Rice-A-Roni, Beef Flavor

Brown the beef in a frying pan, then drain the grease off and set aside.

In the same pan, cook Rice-a-Roni according to instructions on the package. When the rice is done, add the ground beef and serve hot with a vegetable of your choice.

CHICKEN SUBSTITUTION: If you are not fond of ground beef, you can use the Chicken flavor rice and add shopped up chicken breast. I also add broccoli and usually make this dish when I have leftover chicken breast from earlier in the week.

Spicy rice & sausage (30 minutes)

Easy and quick.

When we are looking for a quick and easy recipe, this one always works out.

1 pkg Zatarain's Rice. (try all three and pick your favorite)
1 pkg Andouille Sausage (I use the Emril's spicy smoked sausage)

cut the sausage, add to the pan, add rice and cook according to directions. Serve with a side salad and bread. Yum yum.

Easy Beef & Broccoli

This is the easiest recipe evah!

1 lb beef stew meat (or fajita cut strips)
1 pkg frozen broccoli crowns
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 tea Ginger
1 Tbs Olive Oil

Heat olive oil in a wok (or a deep frying pan) and add beef. Season to taste with salt and pepper and add ginger. Cook until almost done, add frozen vegetables. Cook on medium heat until vegis are warm; push broccoli and beef to the sides of the pan and add the soy sauce. Bring to a bubble and thicken with 2 tea cornstarch in 1/4 cup water; when thick like gravy, toss beef and broccoli together in sauce to coat. Serve over rice.

Variations:

This is also an easy stir fry recipe. Add mushrooms, water chestnuts, green beans (or bag of oriental frozen vegetables) along with bean sprouts. Increase water to 1 cup and cook the same as above.

Welfare Casserole

This is embarrassing but I will share it anyway. I grew up very poor. One night, when ready to make dinner for my brothers and sisters, I had only a few items to cook, none of which seemed to make a meal. I had to improvise. I had the following ingredients:

1/2 lb hamburger
1/2 chopped onion
2 cups instant rice
1 bag frozen vegetables medley (broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, corn)
1 can cream of chicken soup
Seasoning to taste

Brown the hamburger and onion. Drain and add rice (uncooked), vegetables and soup. Bring to a boil, cook for 30 minutes (or until rice is done).

Believe it or not, it tasted really good. I've improvised and substituted over the years. I like it with cream of celery soup and cream of mushroom; I've tried the various mixed vegis and it is good with a medley or a one particular vegetable. I've also added cans of mushrooms and water chestnuts. Additionally, I have substituted chicken and turkey for the hamburger. Finally, it is really good with parmesean or cheddar cheese. Of course, what isn't good with cheese? Right?

Take this recipe and make it your own. If you like it, let me know.