Steamed Carrots with Dill

ingredients:
1 bag of baby carrots
1 can chicken broth
2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp dried dill


instructions:

steam carrots in steamer, using broth in lieu of water. once carrots are steamed to desired soften, place carrots into a bowl with a lid. add butter and place lid on the bowl and shake to coat carrots will melting butter. once coated, remove lid and add dill and shake again. once evenly coated with dill, place in serving dish and serve immediately.

Basil Chicken over Angel Hair

ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package angel hair pasta

2 teaspoons olive oil

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

2 cups boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cubed

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

instructions:

In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook angel hair pasta until it is al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain, and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions and garlic. Stir in the tomatoes, chicken, basil, salt and hot pepper sauce. Reduce heat to medium, and cover skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and tomatoes are soft.

Toss sauce with hot cooked angel hair pasta to coat. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

from: Dusty S.

Pita Chips

ingredients:

3-4 Pita Pockets (I use wheat)
olive oil
salt (or any other desired seasoning)

instructions:
Preheat oven to 275 (you maybe be able to get away with a hotter temperature, but our oven cooks hot so I have to be careful). Rip pita pockets into pieces your desired size. Lay the pita pieces out on a baking sheet-(covering the baking sheet with foil makes for easy clean up). Drizzle olive oil over the pita pieces. Then sprinkle whatever seasoning you want-I use salt. Then bake for about 20mins check on them at about 25 mins or so and "flip" them - to make sure they don't burn on one side. Depending on how thick the pita bread is, you may need to bake it for 5 or 10 more mins.

from: Lindsey W.

Rice & Veggie Stir Fry

ingredients:
1 1/2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 broccoli crowns, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
4 celery segments, chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 small head of purple cabbage, thinly chopped (optional)
1 boil in a bag rice (about 2 1/2 cups)
2 cups oyster flavored sauce (ie: sun luck brand)

instructions:
in a large, deep skillet or wok heat sesame oil and saute onions until golden. add all remaining veggies (except cabbage if using), cover and continue to cook on medium heat. in a sauce pan, boil water and cook rice. once veggies have reached preferred softness add in fully cooked rice, cabbage and oyster sauce. once all ingredients are sufficiently mixed and warmed, remove from heat and serve.

Mashed Potatoes

ingredients:
4 large red potatoes
1/4 cup butter
2 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste


instructions:
scrub/wash and dice the potatoes. boil potatoes in large pan of water with salt. continue to boil potatoes until soft (about 20 -25 minutes depending on how large your potatoes are cut). with a slotted spoon remove potatoes from the pan and into a large mixing bowl. mash the potatoes and add the butter and milk as needed. season with nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. serve immediately.

Party Meatballs

ingredients:
1 package (about 1 lbs.) frozen cocktail meatballs
1/2 cup real maple syrup
1 jar (12 oz) chili sauce
1 jar (12 oz) grape jelly


instructions:
place meatballs, syrup, chili sauce and jelly in a slow cooker. stir to combine. cover and cook on low 3 to 4 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours. serve warm.

Tips: Easy Oven Chicken

using fresh chicken can be difficult when you are cooking for only 1 or 2 people. i would use half of the package for one meal and tend to forget about the other half, not use it soon enough and have to throw it out.

so now i purchase frozen chicken tenders so i always have chicken on hand and no longer have anxiety attacks over wasted, spoiled chicken in my refrigerator.


this is a simple way to take frozen chicken and make the most delicious, moist chicken for all your dishes in about 1 hour (depending on the amount of chicken you need).


preheat your oven to 400 degrees.


determine the style of your dish and the 'marinade' or sauce of choice. for example if i am using this to make chicken for a stir fry i'll use soy sauce or teriyaki sauce. if i am making enchiladas, i'll use my favorite mango peach salsa (pictured). i have also used barbeque sauce and oyster sauce as well. you can really use your imagination!


then simply take a sheet of aluminum foil and your marinade/sauce. pour a little sauce onto the middle of the foil and spread it out if needed. place a few pieces of frozen chicken tenders on the sauce and layer more sauce and chicken as needed. cover the final layer of chicken with more sauce. bring the longer ends of the foil together and roll down toward the chicken. roll up the open side edges, keeping all the sauce and moisture in the foil. place on a baking sheet (in the case any sauce boils out of the foil your oven will stay clean).


Bake for at least 1 hour. Note: up to 4-5 tenders = 1 hour in the oven and serves 1-2 people depending on the dish. add another hour for every 3 pieces added to ensure chicken is cooked thoroughly.


once chicken is done baking (cut into the middle to make sure) place the chicken into a medium size bowl and use a fork to shred the chicken. you can add any left over sauce from the foil to the bowl to add additional flavor.


and there to have it! a simple way to make moist, flavorful chicken without having to watch it. if it cooks longer than it needs too it won't dry out as long as there is enough sauce inside and the foil is tightly wrapped. it is a pretty fool proof way to go! enjoy!

Favorite Sandwich

ingredients:
4-6 arugula leaves
4-8 slices genoa salami
2 Tbsp chives & onion light cream cheese
2 slices honey whole wheat bread

instructions:
spread cream cheese evenly between the two slices of bread. arrange the cleaned arugula leaves on one slice of bread. place the salami slices on the other slice of bread. put both slices of bread together and cut down the center. goes great with kettle chips. enjoy!

Ginger Snaps

ingredients:

2/3 c. shortening (Crisco)
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. molasses
1 egg
2 tsp. soda
2 c. sifted flour
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

instructions:

Mix all ingredients well. Roll into little balls and then roll them in sugar. Bake in 350 degree oven 10-12 minutes.

from: Julie S.

Easy Spinach Pizza

ingredients:
1 lb frozen spinach (thawed)
1 onion (chopped)
1 Tbsp garlic powder
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch of salt
pizza crust (ie: boboli)
2 cups grated mozzarella
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pine nuts (optional)

instructions:
preheat the oven to 400 degrees. saute onions and garlic in olive oil until transparent and fragrant then add spinach and salt to taste. once spinach, onions and garlic are combined spread mixture evenly over the pizza crust. sprinkle both cheeses over spinach and top with pine nuts (if desired). place pizza in oven for 8 to 12 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and slightly golden. slice and enjoy!