Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken

This sweet n' sour chicken is absolutely delish.  Pretty sure my family thought this came from our favorite Chinese restaurant.  In their defense, I did stop and get chow mein take out to go with it.  It's true.  If you're a better wife/mom/cook than me (you've got a good shot), you'll probably serve it with homemade stir fry veggies.  I have breaded this before, but tried it this time without the breading (my feeble attempt to cut calories), and liked it just as well.  It's really that good - no one will miss the breading except your waistline.  Enjoy!!

SWEET N' SOUR CHICKEN

4-5 chicken breasts, chopped into 1-2" pieces
3 Tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 c brown sugar
2/3 cup red wine vinegar (can substitute with apple cider or just plain white vinegar, but you'll lose that reddish color)
2 Tbs soy sauce
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 green pepper, chopped

Mix cornstarch and brown sugar in saucepan.  Stir in vinegar, soy sauce, pineapple and peppers.  Bring to a boil and continue boiling 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.  Place chicken pieces into a 9x13 baking dish, greased with non-stick cooking spray.  Pour sauce over chicken and cover with foil.  Bake 20 minutes, remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Serve over rice.  White rice if you like it super delicious.  Brown rice if you're healthy like Kimi.  Or serve it next to ham-fried rice if you're like me and got the chow mein.

Chicken & Biscuit Casserole *Quick Meal*

2 c cooked, chopped chicken

1 can green beans (or 1 1/2 c fresh green beans, cooked)

1 can cream of chicken
1/2 c Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise)
1-2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 tsp lemon juice
1 can refrigerated flakey biscuits (8 biscuits - I buy the store-brand version of Pillsbury Grands)

Combine all ingredients except biscuits in saucepan over medium heat until cheese melts.  Pour into 9x13 baking dish.  Open the biscuits and try not to have a heart attack when it explodes (I seriously jump every stinkin' time).  Peel each biscuit in half (so they're half as thick).  Place the biscuits side by side on the mixture in the baking dish, 3x5.  Yes, that's only 15... if it's just for your family and doesn't have to look pretty, just squeeze that extra one in somewhere - otherwise, just toss it out (or put it in a pie tin and bake for 8 mins).

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.  YUM!!!

This is a recipe Kimi got from a host-family while touring with a choir, so I don't exactly know whom to credit this one to. Thank you to the anonymous creator!!  This quickly became a family favorite - quick & delicious!!

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

This delicious black bean and corn salsa is the perfect complement to any southwest or mexican dish.  We had it with these baked taquitos - so yummy together!  It's also great to serve at a party instead of traditional chips and salsa.  Enjoy!!

1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
1 cup frozen corn (no need to thaw - or substitute one can corn)
1/4 c chopped fresh cilantro
1/8 c chopped red onions
2 chopped roma tomatoes (about 1 cup)
1/3 c italian dressing
juice of one lime
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt and pepper to taste
 
In large bowl, combine beans and vegetables.  Stir in dressing and lime juice.  Add cumin and salt and pepper.  Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

Baked Chicken Taquitos *Quick Meal*

Found a new favorite dinner... these Baked Chicken Taquitos from Our Best Bites are amazing!!  Funny, when my hubby saw me making these, he was positive they wouldn't be good (since they're not fried).  I am a huge fan of the green salsa (never bought it before), but if you don't have any, you could use a can of diced green chilis.  If you cheat and use canned chicken like I did, these are a super quick meal.  Try them - you'll love them!

Raspberry Cream Cheese Braided Bread

This raspberry cream cheese braided bread looks absolutely delicious!!  I can't wait to make this one.  seriously.  Actually, I wish I had this to eat for breakfast this morning - it reminds me of this delicious pastry ring from a local bakery that we eat on Christmas morning.  yum.  Short on time (or bread-making skills)?  You can totally cheat and use one frozen Rhodes bread loaf (thawed).  Thanks to Jamie Cooks It Up! for another inspiring recipe!  btw, Jamie - you need to give me lessons for taking great pics of your food... beautiful photos!

Rubio's Fish Tacos

Mmmm, I love Rubio's fish tacos - they remind me of this great little taco stand in San Clemente, CA.  Thanks to Brooks & Lindsay at Our Family Treat for doing all the work for us - they figured out how to duplicate these scrumptious tacos.  Click HERE for the recipe.

Mini Baked Donuts

Ummm... I NEED a donut pan right now;  chocolate cake donuts with chocolate frosting are one of my favorite treats.  Frieda Loves Bread shares her recipes for Chocolate Cake Donuts, Powdered Donuts, and Mini Crunch Donuts (which I know will be Missy's favorite). Honestly, they all sound SO good- (on a side note, I hate the taste of baking powder in baked goods so I'm really happy she tweaked the recipe to include buttermilk and not baking powder).  She says you can make them in a mini muffin tin, but really I NEED a donut pan they're so much cuter.  Yummy!

Meltaway Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

These nummy meltaway cookies are fabulous.  They taste a little like buttery shortbread, but just as the name suggests, they melt in your mouth.  Really simple and quick to make - trust me, you'll love this recipe!!

MELTAWAY COOKIES
1/2 lb butter (that's 2 sticks - no wonder they're so good)
3/4 c cornstarch
1/3 c powdered sugar
1 c flour

Cream butter and sugar.  Add cornstarch and flour - beat until creamy.  Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet (each drop should be about the size of a tablespoon) - I use my small cookie scoop.
Note: these cookies don't expand much in the oven, so you can squeeze 15+ on a cookie sheet.

Dip the bottom of a glass into powdered sugar and press down on each cookie to flatten to 1/4" - 1/2".

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.  Cool before frosting.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
3 oz cream cheese (softened)
1 tsp vanilla
1 c powdered sugar

Mix until creamy.  Add food coloring if desired.  BE CAREFUL frosting the cookies!  They are delicate and break easily, so handle with care :)

Rice Krispie Treat Pops

Don't these Rice Krispie Treat Pops look yummy?  What a fun idea for a birthday party activity or just an afternoon at home with the kids.  I think kids of all ages would have fun dipping their own.  So fun!  Thanks to Celebrations at Home for sharing this fun idea.

Enchilada Pie - *QUICK MEAL*

We love Mexican food at our house, and here's one of our quick-dinner favorites: (don't judge this yummy dish by the bad picture... it's not so easy to take a pretty picture of a casserole - especially one that's half eaten before I remember to snap a picture)

Enchilada Pie
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 20 minutes

1 lb ground beef
1 small onion, diced (or about 1/8 cup dehydrated onion)
2 Tbs taco seasoning (or 1/2 packet)
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz - 14.5 oz - anything around there will work)
1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz)
4 small corn tortillas
1 small can sliced olives
1 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
 
Brown beef with onion, drain fat (did you see my earlier post for discarding fat??  if not, see below).  Stir in taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes.  In a small round casserole dish, layer meat sauce, chopped olives, cheese, then tortilla - Repeat 3 more times.  Sprinkle cheese on top tortilla.

  Cover and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

** Here's my tip for discarding drained fat:  instead of searching for an empty can to pour the fat into, just line a bowl with aluminum foil and pour the grease into it.  When it solidifies, simply throw away the foil for a no-mess solution!!!

2 Ingredient Teriyaki Chicken - *QUICK MEAL*

At least 3 days a week, I run from one job to another and find myself with 15 minutes or less to get dinner prepared before I start job #2 (piano lessons).  Baking time isn't an issue for me - obviously it's prep time.

So here's my go-to dinner on days like that.  I've been hesitant to post this recipe (now I won't be able to take this meal to anyone - they'll know how easy it is), but I've decided to give in and share my 2-ingredient Teriyaki Chicken that is TO DIE FOR!!!!!  This is something that ALL 4 of my kids gobble up - never any leftovers.

Ingredient #1:  Mr. Yoshida's Original Gourmet Sauce (most grocery stores carry it - I got this big bottle from Costco)

Ingredient #2:  Chicken

Ha ha ha - seriously... that's it.  This sauce is killer!!!  You honestly won't need to add anything else.  Just pour some of this sauce over the chicken breasts (make sure chicken is coated and there's 1/2 - 1 inch of sauce in the pan), cover with foil or glass lid and bake at 350.

Those perfectly-sized, perfectly-trimmed frozen chicken breasts from Costco take about 1 1/2 hours.  The thicker variety from your grocery store will take closer to 2 hours.  Serve over rice (spoon some extra sauce on top) with a veggie on the side - broccoli, green beans, or carrots go great with this.  Or you could serve it with stir-fry veggies (again, I use the frozen bag from Costco... hmmm... maybe Costco should start paying me for all of the plugs I give them).

I listed this as *QUICK MEAL* because it takes 2 minutes to prepare.  If you don't have ample baking time, put it on low in the crock pot for 6-8 hours.

Scrumdiddlyumptious Cake (also known as Coca-Cola Cake)

I decided to try a new recipe for my daughter's birthday cake and this one was so good, I renamed it the Scrumdiddlyumptious Cake (hope that isn't trademarked by Wonka).  It is just sweet, chocolate goodness - unfortunately for those of you who love Coke, it doesn't taste like Coke... it just adds the perfect amount of moisture and sweetness.

SCRUMDIDDLYUMPTIOUS CAKE (aka Coke Cake)

2 c flour
2 c sugar
1 c butter
1 c Coke (no diet!!)
2 Tbs cocoa
1/2 c buttermilk*
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 c mini marshmallows

Mix flour and sugar in large mixer bowl.  Melt butter in saucepan; add cocoa and Coke and bring to boil.  Pour into flour mixture and mix well.  Mix in buttermilk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and salt.  Pour into greased 9x13 pan.  Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.  Sprinkle marshmallows on top and bake an additional 5 minutes until melted.  Cool cake and frost with Coke frosting.

COKE FROSTING

1/2 c butter
1/3 c Coke (again, no diet)
2 Tbs cocoa
3 1/2 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter in saucepan; add cocoa and Coke and bring to boil.  Remove from heat and mix into powdered sugar.  Add vanilla and mix until smooth and creamy.  Spread onto cake.  Cool completely for frosting to set before serving (at least 1 hour).

DELICIOUS!!!!!  This cake is great made a day ahead!

*Note: Don't have buttermilk?  Try using 1/2 Tbs vinegar or lemon juice added to 1/2 c milk.  Trust me, it works.

Linking up:

Avocado Egg Rolls

My hubby and I were lucky enough to go on a date recently.  Just the two of us.  Where did we go?  Cheesecake Factory, of course!  I absolutely love that place.  We've never had an appetizer there before (have to save room for dessert!) but since we had a gift card, we thought we'd splurge.

Well, I haven't been able to stop thinking about those DELICIOUS avocado egg rolls we ate that night.  So I began a quest to find a knock-off recipe...

Can't wait to try this recipe from Sweet Basil... thanks for "feeding" my obsession!!!  ha ha - I know, bad pun :)

White Bean Chicken Chili - Quick Meal

Since I teach piano lessons in the afternoon, I am always looking for yummy QUICK dinners.  Tonight I found a winner.  This white bean chicken chili from Our Family Treat was awesome!  All 4 kiddos ate it right up, even asking for seconds.  I cheated and used canned chicken from Costco, so it was super fast.  It only needs to simmer 20 minutes (told you it was quick!), but since I was going to be tied up until time to eat, I made this ahead of time and let it simmer in the crock pot on low while I was teaching.  Yum!!!

French Banana Cake

When I make cakes I almost always make one with chocolate- really, I LOVE chocolate cake.  If I don't make something chocolate, however, this is my new favorite- French Banana Cake.  It's kind of like a REALLY yummy, REALLY moist banana bread with frosting.  Delicious!!  The recipe calls for a 9x13 but for our New Years party I baked it in a bundt pan- it took almost an hour to cook, but beautiful!  The other great thing about this cake is it tastes great the 2nd day.  Okay, on with the recipe:

French Banana Cake (from Favorites)

2/3 cup water

1 Tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 package white cake mix

2 eggs

1 1/4 cups very ripe bananas, mashed

2/3 cup walnuts, optional (but really, who wants to ruin a cake by adding nuts, yuck!)

Mix water, vinegar, and soda.  Combine with cake mix & eggs.  Stir until moistened.  Scrape bowl with spatula.  Add mashed bananas.  Beat with electric mixer 3 minutes at medium speed.  Pour into greased & floured 9 x 13 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean).  When cooled, frost.

Creamy Butter Frosting (this makes a lot of frosting, for the bundt cake I cut it in half)

4 cups powdered sugar

4 Tablespoons soft butter

cream or milk (I use whole milk)

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix powdered sugar and butter, adding enough cream or milk to make right consistency of icing.  Add vanilla.  Frost cake and store in the refrigerator.



Potato Cheese Soup

Anyone else love soup when it's freezing outside?  Soup is such a comfort food to me during the winter.  I'm excited to try this Potato Cheese Soup from Christy at from glitter to gumdrops. Can you say yummmmm??

Boston Clam Chowder

Our mom makes a killer clam chowder - supposedly the recipe is from a restaurant that used to be around called Brattens.  I made it for my family last night and they gobbled it right up!  So delicious, it could seriously compete with Legal SeaFoods, McGraths, or Market Street.  It's also pretty simple and takes less than an hour from start to finish.

Bratten's Boston Clam Chowder

3/4 lb minced clams, or two 6 1/2 oz cans minced clams
       (you can use chopped, but I don't like chewing on big pieces of clam - kinda rubbery; you can also use just one can if you're not a big fan)
1 small yellow onion, chopped fine
1 c finely diced celery
2-3 c finely diced potatoes, depending on preference
3/4 c butter
3/4 c flour
1 qt. half & half cream
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp pepper

Drain juice from clams and pour over vegetables in medium saucepan; add enough water to barely cover and simmer, covered, over medium heat until potatoes are tender - about 20 minutes.

While veggies are cooking, in separate pan melt butter, add flour and blend and cook 1-2 minutes.  Slowly add cream and cook until smooth and thick, using wire whisk to blend... STIRRING CONSTANTLY.

Combine cream mixture and undrained vegetables.  Add clams, salt, sugar, and pepper.
Makes 8-10 servings.

ENJOY!!!

Quick Meal - Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

This Chicken & Stuffing Casserole is what we had for dinner last night. (and might I just add that despite the funny looks and moaning from the kids, once they tasted it, this was an instant hit!)  So quick and simple.

Jamie Cooks It Up! gives instructions for making this in a crockpot or the oven (I didn't think far enough ahead, so I went with the oven version).  I am lazy was short on prep time and didn't thaw my chicken or pound it flat - so I added more cooking time... 1+1/2 hours instead of 1 hour.  Turned out great!

Baked Brie

forgive my poor photography skills, it was dark outside and I was running late... this picture does not do justice

Last weekend I was asked to bring an appetizer to a dinner party.  Appetizers are definitely not my forte, so I looked through some of favorite cookbooks to see if anything caught my eye.  I came across a recipe for Baked Brie that I thought sounded delicious, so I gave it a go.  This recipe is definitely a keeper.  It is quick and easy, delicious to boot, and looks beautiful.  It was such a hit last weekend that I took it to a baby shower this week, where it also received great reviews.  Yummy!!

Baked Brie

Ingredients: 

• 19.6 oz. wheel of Brie cheese (this is the size that they sell at Costco- I know there are 8 oz. wheels at the grocery store, that I'm sure work just great you just might have to trim down the pastry slightly)
• 1 Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheet (thawed for 40 minutes at room temperature)
• 1 egg, separated
• brown sugar

Cut wheel of Brie in half horizontally.

Sprinkle on brown sugar and replace top of the Brie.  Place Brie on the pastry sheet.  Beat the egg white with a fork and brush onto cheese and pastry.

Wrap the pastry up around the sides and the top of the Brie.  Pinch the edges to enclose the cheese completely (pinch really hard or it will come apart- learned from experience).  Beat the egg yolk with a fork and brush over the top and sides of the pastry.  Bake on a baking sheet at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.  I LOVE cheese with fruit so I served my Baked Brie with green apple slices (BTW- so delicious).  It would also be yummy served with grapes or whole-grain crackers.  It's also good the next day heated in the microwave for a few seconds.

Chocolate Hershey Bar Pie

If you need to bring a pie to Thanksgiving dinner this year, have I got a pie for you!  I've had this scrumptious Chocolate Hershey Bar Pie before, but never knew it was so easy to make!  Thanks to Jamie Cooks It Up! for this recipe!!  yummmm....