Sausage and Cabbage

Another find off Pinterest: http://veryculinary.com/2014/03/11/kielbasa-and-cabbage-skillet/

Squash and Kale Pizza

INGREIDENTS:

• 1 whole wheat pizza dough (homemade or store bought)
• whole wheat flour for rolling dough
• finely ground yellow cornmeal for dusting
• 3-4 tablespoons  olive oil
• 2 cups  Tuscan kale leaves, washed and torn into bite-size pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, sliced thin
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups  butternut squash, peeled, deseeded, cubed
• 6 ounces  smoked mozzarella
• fine sea salt (or kosher salt)
• black pepper to taste

step-by-step directions

• Place pizza stone in the oven. Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss squash pieces with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Spread on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for about 15-20 minutes, tossing once or twice, until tender.
• Raise heat in oven to 500°F.
• Toss kale with about 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
• Thinly slice the mozzarella.
• Roll or toss pizza dough with extra whole wheat flour to about 1/4" to 1/2" thick circle. Sprinkle cornmeal on the pizza peel (or hard surface) and place rolled dough on top of cornmeal.
• Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté garlic until fragrant, but not yet brown. Brush dough with garlic olive oil mixture, covering the whole pie including crust. Make sure garlic is evenly spread around the dough.
• Sprinkle oiled dough with 1/4 teaspoon of salt, place a few slices of mozzarella on the crust, then the squash pieces, kale, and top with more sliced mozzarella. Gently slide pizza onto hot pizza stone and bake for 8-10 minutes, or until crust reaches desired consistency, the cheese is melted, and kale is slightly crispy.

Balsamic Beef

I found this recipe on another blog, and it's a regular go-to now! SO delicious!!




http://www.shugarysweets.com/2013/05/slow-cooker-balsamic-shredded-beef

Sweet Sesame Noodles

INGREDIENTS:
1 8z pkg uncooked soba
1 8 oz pkg broccoli florets
Cooking Spray
2 6 oz skinless, boneless, chicken breast halves
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
2 TBL rice vinegar
2 TBL dark sesame oil
2 TBL lower-sodium soy sauce
1 TBL creamy peanut butter
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds, divided
1 tsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
3 green onions, chopped

DIRECTIONS:
Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. Add soba; cook 3 minutes. Add broccoli to the pan; cook 3 more minutes until broccoli and soba are soft. Drain. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle chicken evenly with salt and pepper  and add to the grill pan; cooking until done. Remove chicken from the pan and cut into 1" pieces. Combine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, peanut butter, 1 tsp sesame seeds, sugar, crushed red pepper and garlic in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Stir in the noodle mixture and chicken. Sprinkle with remaining sesame seeds and green onions.

Louisana BBQ Shrimp

Makes 2 Servings

If you want to make more than two servings, do so in seperate batches- one recipe fills a large skillet but serve while piping hot and stir the sauce frequently while serving. Everyone peels their own shrimp at the table and stirs the shrimp in the sauce along with dipping french bread in the sauce!

2 dozen large shrimp with shells - about 1 pound

Seasoning Mix:
1 teaspoon ground red pepper- preferably cayenne
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon rosemary leaves crushed
1/8 teaspoon oregano leaves

1 stick plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter -total needed
1 & 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup basic shrimp stock - to make:peel 2 raw shrimp and put shells in 1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup beer at room temperature

Rinse the shrimp in cold water and drain well. In a small bowl combine the seasoning mix ingredients. In a large skillet combine 1 stick of butter, garlic, Worcestershire and seasoning mix over high heat. When the butter is melted, add the shrimp. Cook 2 minutes, shaking the pan vs stirring in a back and forth motion. Add the remaining 5 tablespoons butter and the stock, cook and shake pan 2 minutes. Add beer and cook and shake 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Serve immediately in bowls with lots of French bread on the side or on a platter with cooked rice mounded in the middle and shrimp and sauce surrounding it.

ie: Lagniappe: a certain percentage of oil is released when butter is melted, shaking the pan in back and forth motion and addition of stock to the butter keeps the sauce from deprecating and having an oily texture- stirring doesn't produce the same effect

Really Easy, Really GOOD Chili!

I had this chili at my friend, Robyn's, and it was SO good, I had to get the recipe. She had gotten it from a friend who has even entered it into contests and won! Robyn and I were both so surprised that it was so easy, but grateful! Yum!

INGREDIENTS:

2lbs ground beef 

1/2 onion, chopped 

1tsp ground pepper 

1/2 tsp garlic salt 

2 1/2 c. tomato sauce 

8oz salsa 

4 TBS chili seasoning mix 

15 oz light red kidney beans 

15 oz dark red kidney beans

DIRECTIONS:

Cook beef and onion together until onion is tender and beef is done. Add rest of ingredients and simmer on low for at least an hour.

Pork Tenderloin Papakarish with Egg Noodles

I found this in my Cooking Light magazine, and tried it for something different!



 It was a good, everyday kind of meal! You can find the recipe HERE.

Oven Baked Tacos

I found this recipe on pinterest, and I ended up taking it for a 'tailgating' dinner- it was super easy to make and take along, and very yummy!

 

2 lbs ground beef (or turkey/chicken)
1 small onion diced
1 small can diced green chilies
1 recipe for Homemade taco seasoning (below)
1 (8 ounce) can low sodium tomato sauce 
1 (16 ounce) can fat free refried beans 
2 cups shredded reduced fat Colby-jack cheese 
18-20 hard taco shells {if gluten free, be sure they are}

Optional Condiments- 
Lettuce (shredded) 
Tomato (diced) 
Salsa 
Guacamole 
Sour Cream
Olives, sliced  

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  

In a large skillet brown ground beef and onion over medium-high heat. Drain off any excess liquid. Return to pan, add chilies, refried beans, tomato sauce, and taco seasoning. Mix well and cook for a few minutes if mixture seems runny. 

Spoon the taco meat mixture into the taco shells and place into a 9 x 13 inch baking dish (OR check out The Taco Rack), standing up. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the taco meat in each shell. Place into the oven and bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the tacos are heated through. 
Remove from the oven and top with any optional condiments for serving. 

Taco Seasoning
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

In a small bowl, mix all together. Store in an airtight container.
I used all of this on 2 lbs of ground meat with a little water mixed in. 

Beef Stroganoff

While my step-dad was visiting, I asked what he'd like for dinner, and his reply was "Beef Stroganoff"... I haven't ever made this before so I had to do some research, and this is what I came up with!

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lbs lean tri-tip sirlion steak, trimmed of all fat, cut in thin 1/4" x 2" strips
olive oil cooking spray
1 tbsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
10 oz of sliced mushrooms
1 can of tomato soup
1 cup of water
1 small fresh bay leaf
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
2/3 cup of light sour cream
Frozen Peas

Directions: In a heavy saucepan, heat pan over high heat. When pan is hot, spray with oil and add steak. Brown meat until cooked. Remove meat from pan. Lower heat, melt butter, then add onions. Cook about 2-3 minutes until translucent, add garlic and mushrooms and sauté about 2-3 more minutes until cooked. Add a can of tomato soup, mushroom soup, steak, water, bay leaf, and worcestershire sauce. Cover and cook on low about 40 minutes. Remove bay leaf and mix in sour cream and frozen peas. Serve over noodles or rice.

Cajun Pumpkin Soup in a Bread Bowl

Not the best picture, but this was SO good. My kids brought home a pumpkin from their teacher's garden (YUM!) and so we had tons of fun cooking it up and making muffins, soup, and pasta with it! I decided this would be super yummy in a bread bowl. Click HERE for the recipe.

Black Bean and Mango Salsa Chicken

I LOVE Skinnytaste. Another hit from her site! You can find the recipe HERE!

Broiled Lemon Parmesan Tilapia

This was SO good!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 butter, softened
3 TBL Mayo
2 TBL lemon juice
1/2 TBL Garlic, Minced
1/4 tsp basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 celery salt
1/8 onion powder
2 lbs tilapia fillets

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat your oven's broiler on low. Grease a broiling pan and arrange fillets in a single layer. Broil 2-3 minutes per side. In a small bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Remove fillets from oven and cover them with the parmesan mixture. Broil for an addition 2-3 minutes until the topping is browned and the fish is flaky. Enjoy!

Kuala Pork

Hawaii is famous for it's Kuala Pork... so when I asked the hubby what he wanted to for dinner- he asked me to try a kuala pork recipe! I have to be honest that this was back in July and I don't remember exactly which recipe I used. I know it'll come back to me as I'm searching through my 'internet recipe box', so until then I leave you with this mystery. But it's really good. Especially with some rice, corn on the cob and green papaya salad!

Papaya Bowl Chicken Salad

Since living in Hawaii, we have Papaya a plenty! One fun way to eat it is to make a fruit bowl with mango, apple bananas and pineapple in it. I discovered another way- fill it with chicken salad! (Also you could fill an avocado with chicken salad, which would be super yummy, too!!
I made Pioneer Woman's Chicken Salad with Blueberries and Corn and put it in a Papaya! YUM!!

Chicken, Blueberry and Corn Salad

YUM! I saw this on Pioneer Woman's cooking show and had to make it- the perfect summer dinner!!

Click HERE for the recipe! (I served mine over butter lettuce bowls!)

Hot Mini Sandwiches

I made some Bunco Buns a couple years ago that I thought were pretty good- and I was looking for something to go along with my soup, so I was excited to try these (I always see the fun sandwich dressings by the deli, but have never bought them until now!). These are SO good... thanks Pioneer Woman! Click HERE for the link.

Ugly Costco Pasta

I found this in our Costco Magazine. It is a super simple, easy dinner that has become a go-to with our rotisserie chicken for days that we need a quick dinner or we've ben out late grocery shopping!

Ingredients

1/2 rotisserie chicken
1 package "rainbow" cheese tortellini
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 cups sliced mushrooms (I leave these out because the hubs doesn't like them!)
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
2 cups half and half
1 cup chicken broth
Cajun seasoning to taste
2 Tablespoons dried basil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

Shred leftover chicken and set aside. Prepare tortellini according to instructions on package and set aside.
Add olive oil to a large saute pan over medium heat. Saute mushrooms for 3 to 5 minutes and then add garlic. Add sun-dried tomatoes and chicken, and saute until mixed thoroughly. Add half and half, broth and seasonings.
Add tortellini. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes to reduce liquid and blend flavors. If you need to add liquid, add half and half and chicken broth in a 2:1 ratio.
Serves 6.

Garlic Shrimp in Coconut Milk, Tomatoes and Cilantro

Another Skinnytaste Success!! Click HERE for the link.

Skinny Chicken "Fried" Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and "Fried" Okra

SO, we were hungry for some of our favorite comfort Southern food from good ol' Georgia. This was a good compromise!!

Here is the Chicken: (I just used breast fillets instead of the other parts of the chicken) http://www.skinnytaste.com/2009/07/oven-fried-chicken.html

Mashed Potatoes: http://davisfamilydining.blogspot.com/2012/03/mashed-cauliflower.html

(White Gravy came from a Seasoning Packet at the Store)

Okra: http://cookincowgirl.blogspot.com/2012/03/oven-fried-okra.html

Crock Pot Sesame Chicken

I am loving my crockpot these days!! Skinnytaste has a lot of recipes for my trusty friend, and I've loved a lot of them...this was a good variant, but not my favorite. Click HERE for the link.