Magnificent Marsala Penne

It's nearly payday...which means, my cupboards and fridge are in need of restocking. I pulled out chicken to thaw in the fridge over night and thought about what supplies I already had...and then I literally dreamed up this recipe. It was everything and more I could have hoped for! Magnificent! I made this for 2 adults (and a 1 year old)...and it would have been enough to feed 4 adults.


Ingredients:

• Multi Grain Penne Pasta, cooked (I used half a box and had a lot left over)
• 2 chicken breasts, pounded thin
• 1 cup Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 1/2 sweet onion, diced
• 1 cup & 1/2 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup Marsala wine
• season salt
• pepper
• garlic powder or minced garlic
• Mrs. Dash (original)
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Pour 1/2 cup of chicken stock into an 8x8 baking dish. Pound chicken breasts thin. TIP: lay chicken on plastic wrap and fold plastic wrap over the top (not tightly), then pound...keeps chicken juice from going all over the place. Sprinkle the listed spices on the chicken, then put 1/4 cup of Mozzarella in the center of each breast, then 1/4 of the onions on each breast. Roll them up and place in an 8x8 baking dish. Sprinkle with spices and add remaining onions on top. Place in oven and bake for 30 minutes. Half way through baking time, baste chicken with chicken stock to keep from drying out.

Make sure to wash your hands and all surfaces where the raw chicken touched.

Boil water and cook pasta for about 10 minutes. While pasta is cooking, make the sauce. Bring 1 cup of Marsala wine to a boil and allow to reduce by half. Then add 1 cup chicken stock and whisk in flour. Boil for several minutes (this will help sauce thicken slightly). Reduce heat to low and when liquid is no longer boiling add a dash of garlic, salt, and pepper. Then add milk and butter, remove from heat when butter is melted. You do not want it to boil once the milk has been added!

Serve chicken on top of pasta, spoon on sauce then sprinkle with the remaining Mozzarella and some Parmesan cheese. I cut the breasts in half and served each of us half (portion control)...and it was plenty to make us full!

Cheers!
CC

Bacon, Cream Cheese, Egg Breakfast Muffin

Bacon....yum! Sorry this picture does not do justice to how tasty this was.

Ingredients:

• 2 slices cooked bacon (I like to use maple bacon)
• 1 egg scrambled 
• 1 English muffin (whole grain), toasted
• Schmear of cream cheese

Put it all together and eat! TIP: An easy way to make a scrambled egg...crack egg into a coffee mug, add a splash of milk and whisk with a fork. Microwave for a minute. It will be the perfect size for your English muffin. If you are feeling adventurous...add some jelly on top of the cream cheese. The best is blackberry or boysenberry (or as they call it here, black raspberry).

Cheers!
CC

Tuna Melt with Avocado

Have I mentioned how hot it is? I think I may have once or twice...So tonight I made tuna melts. They were fabulous, quick, simple, yum! Served with a nice side salad...great summer dish. This makes four sandwiches.

Ingredients:

• 8 slices sour dough bread
• 8 slices Swiss cheese
• 1 Avocado, sliced
• 12 oz can tuna (in water)
• 3 tablespoons mayo
• 1 tablespoon mustard (I used honey dijon)
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Butter

 Toast the sourdough slices lightly. While they are toasting, mix tuna, mayo, mustard, relish, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Heat a skillet on medium heat. Spread a thin layer of butter on one side of the toast. Place toast in skillet butter side DOWN. Place one slice of cheese, then tuna, then avocado, then cheese, then toast butter side UP. Let it cook until the cheese gets melty and then flip. Cook for a couple minutes...remove from heat and serve.

Cheers!
CC

Toaster Oven S'Mores with Nutella

I love my toaster oven. I am always trying to think of ways to use it...especially now since it has been so hot...I don't want to turn my oven on!

Ingredients:

• Gram Crackers
• Nutella
• Mini Marshmallows

Put your toaster oven on the toast setting. Place a gram cracker on the rack, then put a few mini marshmallows on top. I also put a couple butterscotch chips on mine (yum yum yum). Toast until marshmallows are golden. Spread Nutella on another gram cracker then sandwich the two crackers together! Sooooo soooo good and easy!

Cheers!
CC

Roasted Potatoes

It was way too hot to make these (it's 95 degrees here)...but I did it anyway because they sounded so good.

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes
• 1 medium onion (brown or sweet)
• Olive Oil spray
• Season Salt
• Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Mrs. Dash (original)

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Wash, peel and cube potatoes. Dice onion (not too small though). Place potatoes and onion in a large bowl. Spray with several sprays of olive oil (enough to coat). sprinkle in a generous amount of the spices and toss until coated. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer. Cook 10 minutes then turn. Cook 10 more minutes and turn again. Then 10 more minutes.

A few ideas to jazz them up a bit...I added Parmesan cheese the last 5 minutes of cooking time. You could use shredded cheddar cheese, bacon bits, and drizzle with sour cream (this is what I am going to do next time).

Cheers!
CC

Did you make this? Change it? Let me know your thoughts!

Brownie Bites Made in a Cake Pop Maker

Nick absolutely loves brownies with Reese's chips. But with 95 degree temperatures and 55% humidity, the last thing I want to do is run the oven. So I figured I would pull out the cake pop maker and see if making brownies would work. It did! They turned out so delicious and if you are like me and like the edges of the brownies the best, then you will love this!

Ingredients:

• 1 box of your favorite brownie mix
• 1 bag Reese's Peanut Butter Chips (you won't use the whole bag)

Plug in your cake pop maker to pre-heat it. Mix up the brownie mix as directed on the box. TIP: My favorite brownie mix is by far Dunkin Hines Milk Chocolate.  Spray Cake Pop maker with cooking spray. Fill each cup with brownie batter half way, then add in 3 or 4 Reese's chips to each and fill the rest of the way with batter. They take about 15 minutes to bake through. I suggest trying out just a few first before you fill up the whole pop maker. This gives you an idea of what you are doing and a good technique and if you run a few, its not a big deal. Make sure you also poke the middle of them with a tooth pick to make sure the center is cooked through. If the toothpick is clean, they are done. How I fill my pop maker is with a squeeze bottle (I got in the baking and candy aisle of Micheal's). But you can use a pastry bag or a sandwich bag that you cut at the corner.

If Reese's aren't your thing, you can make them plain or with other things like chopped nuts, butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, caramel....

Cheers!
CC

Did you try this? How did it turn out? Let us know!

Roasted Cauliflower

I've heard people say that roasted cauliflower tastes like french fries, but it a much healthier option. So I decided to give it a try. It didn't taste anything like french fries, but it was very good.

Ingredients:

• 1 head of cauliflower
• 6 sprays of olive oil
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• Mrs. Dash (original)
• black pepper
• season salt (just a tiny bit)
• balsamic vinegar
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Chop cauliflower into chunks then wash thoroughly. Place cauliflower in a bowl and spray with olive oil and add spices...then toss until coated. Place cauliflower on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes (turn cauliflower once during baking). After 15 minutes, remove from oven and sprinkle with a bit of balsamic vinegar and Parmesan cheese. Bake for another five minutes.

Cheers!
CC

Did you try this? Like it? Change it? Comment below and let us know how you made it!

Cream Cheese & Jam French Toast Sammy

Liv (my 15 month old) loves to eat dry cereal and a scrambled egg with cheese for breakfast. It's pretty typical...but lately I've been wanting to switch up her breakfast routine. At breakfast time, I just want whatever I make to be easy, quick, and yummy. I am not a morning person...so cooking with a cup of coffee in one hand is a must! My first thought was french toast with Nutella (yum)...but then I remembered this cafe my mom used to take me to that served cream cheese and jam sandwiches. And ding...the light bulb went off in my head. French Toast Sammy with cream cheese and jam in the middle. Delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• splash of milk
• 3 drops vanilla
• 2 slices of bread
• cream cheese
• jam

Heat a skillet on medium heat with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking. Whisk egg, milk, and vanilla together in a shallow bowl. Soak both sides of bread in the egg mixture and immediately place in skillet. Cook both sides for several minutes to ensure egg is cooked through. Smear with cream cheese and jam and serve as a sandwich.

You can also switch it up with cream cheese and honey, peanut butter and honey (or syrup), add cinnamon to the egg mixture, or use cream cheese and fresh fruit. Be creative!

Cheers!
CC

Steamed Artichoke

Who doesn't love artichoke? But cooking this delicious vegetable may make some people scratch their heads...and I can't say I blame you. It just does not look very inviting. It's easier than you may think though. And I will tell you a simple and tasty way to get this from the market to your table.

Ingredients:

• Artichoke 
• Garlic powder
• Pepper
• Mrs. Dash (original blend)
• Melted butter or Mayo (optional) for dipping

Place steam basket in large pot. Add enough water to come just to the bottom of the basket. Too little water will boil out of the pan before the artichoke is finished cooking. Cover pot and heat water on medium heat until steaming, then turn down to medium low Slice the very top of the artichoke off, and also about 1/2 inch off the stem and wash thoroughly. Place the artichoke in the pot, stem down, and sprinkle top with the spices listed above. Cover and let steam for two hours. Artichoke is done cooking when leaves pull off easily. Serve with melted butter (spice it up with the listed spices) or mayo for dipping.

Cheers!
CC

Honey Dijon Pork Chops

Just a little something I threw together for dinner tonight.

Ingredients:

• 2 Pork Chops
• 3 tablespoons Honey Dijon Mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Bread crumbs
• Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray bottom of a glass baking dish with olive oil, and then coat with a thin layer of bread crumbs. Place shops in the dish. Mix mustard, sauce, garlic, and onion and spread over the chops. Sprinkle a thin layer of bread crumbs over the top and bake for 20-25 minutes (depending on the thickness of the chops, mine were pretty thin). Make sure meat is cooked through before serving.

I made some Chicken and Mushroom flavored Rice-A-Roni to serve with it along with peas. Gotta get those veggies in!

Cheers!
CC

Strawberry Cream Cheese Yumminess

The Commissary where I do my grocery shopping had strawberries on sale for just $1. I do love strawberries! So I made pancakes one morning topped with Nutella and strawberries...but what to do with the rest...hmmm...strawberries and cream cheese are delicious. Hence an idea was born. This is a great dessert or even part of a balanced breakfast.

Mine looks a little lopsided...but it tasted delicious!

Ingredients:

• 1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls
• 1/2 package of strawberries, sliced
• 8 tablespoons whipped cream cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll out the dough onto a cookie sheet but do not separate the rolls. Mix together cream cheese, vanilla, almond extract, and sugar. Smooth out half the mixture onto the dough. Place strawberries on half the dough and fold the other half over...pinch sides to close it up and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Cheers!
CC

Did you make this? Make any changes? Let me know your thoughts!

Spanish Rice

This was my first time making Spanish rice. It was definitely not perfect, but it wasn't bad...as Nick would say, it was white girl rice. I will work on it though...

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1 medium diced onion
• garlic, cumin, cilantro, salt, pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter

Combine all ingredients in a large-ish sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce to medium low heat and cover...cook for 20 minutes or until rice is soft. Do not uncover to stir until rice is done. Once it is done cooking, mix it up and serve.

Cheers!

Chicken Fajitas

Being a So Cal native, but living in Louisiana I am really missing Mexican food. We went out one night to what we were told was the best Mexican food in town...it was okay...but not by So Cal standards. So right now I think my best best is to rely on my own versions. My cooking is still very white though...I need to brush up on my skills when I go home to visit...spend some time with my BF3 (who is Mexican).

I was really craving some good fajitas and these really hit the spot for me! This is my original recipe. I also made some Spanish rice to go with the meal...it turned out okay for a first try but next time I am going to make a few changes. I'll post the rice recipe in a separate post.

Ingredients:

• 1lbThin sliced chicken breast, cubed
• 1 large onion, diced (I used a sweet onion)
• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• olive oil
• lemon juice
• garlic, pepper, cumin, cilantro, salt, Worcestershire sauce

Spray a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, and a splash of lemon juice, garlic, pepper, cumin, cilantro and salt and cook until onion is browned. Add in bell pepper and  chicken and splash with a little Worcestershire sauce and lemon juice. Make sure to stir and flip chicken. Make sure chicken is cooked all the way through...cooks in about 10-15 minutes.

Serve with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings...salsa, sour cream, cheese, avocado, guacamole, etc.

Cheers!
CC

Did you try this? Make changes? Tell me your thoughts!

Bacon Wrapped Baked Potato

One of my all time favorite foods...the potato. There are a billion things you can do with a potato, and baked potatoes are one of my very favorite ways to make this delicious food. This recipe is a combination of something I saw on Pinterest and some potatoes made by Nick's step-dad. They turned out delicious!

Ingredients

• Large baking potato
• 4 onion slices (I used sweet onion)
• 4 slices thin maple bacon
• butter
• salt, pepper, garlic powder, Mrs Dash and olive oil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Wash potato really well (scrub the skin). Make 4 deep slices in the potato. Stuff butter, spices and an onion slice in each potato slice. Spray a little olive oil on a piece of tin foil. Wrap the potato with the bacon slices, then place on foil and wrap tight. Cook in oven for 3 hours. TIP Put the potato on the upper oven rack, then place a cookie sheet on the lower rack so that the drippings don't mess the oven.

Top with your favorite toppings...sour cream, cheese, salsa....

Cheers!
CC

Did you make this? Tell me what you thought...and if you made changes :)