Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Meals for October 20-25, 2013

 Sunday:
5 Minute Brown Butter Chicken with Sage Tossed with Parmesan and Angel Hair Pasta with Broccoli and Garlic Bread

Monday: 
Crispy Crockpot Carnitas with Corn Tortillas.
Toppings:Cilantro and Onion Mix, Fresh Lime, Corn, Sour Cream, Cheese

Tuesday: 
Thai Style Chicken Breast served over Basmati Rice with Broccoli

Wednesday: 
Buffalo Soup and Cheddar Garlic Biscuits with Carrot Sticks

Recipe for Biscuits:
2 1/4 C. of Bisquick
2/3 C. Milk
1/2 C. Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
1/8 t. Garlic Powder
Mix thoroughly and drop on cookie sheet evenly spaced. Bake in oven for 8 minutes at 450.

Thursday: 
Skillet Chicken Tikka Masala and Rice with Green Beans and side of Roti
The only thing I do differently in this recipe is I always Puree the tomato. I have learned from experience if you don't the flavours don't blend as well. 

Friday:
Costco's Orange Chicken, Pot Stickers, and Chicken Fried Rice 

Recipes!!!

Everyone has asked for some of my recipes that I use the most so here ya go!

Lemon Garlic Crock Pot Chicken

2 lbs. chicken breast halves, (cut in half if they are large)
3 Tablespoons dried oregano
1 ½ teaspoons seasoning salt (like Lawry’s)
¾ teaspoon pepper
4 Tablespoons butter
¾ Cup water
¾ Cup lemon juice
8 cloves garlic
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
3 teaspoons dried parsley (optional)

Rinse chicken.  Mix oregano, salt, and pepper and rub into chicken.  Melt butter in large skillet, add chicken browning both sides.  Transfer chicken to slow cooker.  Place water, lemon, bouillon, and garlic in large skillet.  Stir over medium heat; bring to a boil loosening brown bits.  Pour over chicken, cook on high for at least 3 hours.  Add parsley last ½ hour.  Serve with steamed brown rice.


Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed chicken broth (or chicken broth made with bouillon cubes or powder)
1 1/4 cups water
1 cup whole corn kernels, cooked
1 cup white hominy
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 boneless chicken breast halves, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

Toppings:
crushed tortilla chips
sliced avocado
shredded Monterey Jack cheese
chopped fresh cilantro or green onions
sour cream

In a medium stock pot, heat oil over medium heat.  Saute onion until soft, add garlic and sauté til fragrant.  Stir in tomatoes, chili powder, oregano, broth, and water.  Bring to a boil, and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes.  Stir in corn, hominy, green chiles, beans, cilantro, and chicken.  Simmer for 10 minutes.
Serve with toppings.

** Note:   I usually add more chicken broth before simmering the last 10 minutes – it’s a pretty thick soup otherwise.  Enjoy! 

Chicken Curry

2 Jars of Trader Joe's Yellow Thai Curry Sauce
1 Whole Onion
6 Chicken Breasts
2 Whole Carrots
1 Potato

Directions:
Slice Chicken in strips and cook over medium heat until cooked through. Skin and dice potato in bite size pieces. Do the same with the carrots.  Cut Onion in half and then slice thinly.  Put everything in a 10x13 pan and cover with jarred sauce. Cook in oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees! Serve over Basmati or Jasmine Rice

Crispy Slow Cooker Carnitas

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6-8 Hours
Finishing: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
1 (4-5 lb.) lean boneless pork roast, excess fat trimmed, cut into 3-inch chunks
8 oz. beer
1 large white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. chipotle powder (or 1 chipotle in adobo sauce)
2 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper

Directions:
Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the pork and sear on each side until browned (about 2 minutes per side). Transfer pork to the slow cooker.
Add remaining ingredients, and give the mixture a careful stir to combine. Cook on low for 6-8 hours until the pork is completely tender and shreds easily with a fork.
Once the pork is cooked, preheat your broiler to high heat and prepare two baking sheets with aluminum foil. Use a fork to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces, and then use a slotted spoon to transfer it to the prepared baking sheets, spreading it out evenly in a single layer. Reserve the remaining broth from the slow cooker.
Place one sheet under the broiler for about 5 minutes, or until the edges of the pork begin crisping up. Remove the sheet, and use a spatula or tongs to carefully toss the pork. Then ladle about 1/4 cup of the remaining slow cooker broth over the pork. Broil for an additional 5 minutes to get the meat more crispy. Then remove and ladle an additional 1/4 cup of broth over the crispy pork.
Repeat with the other baking sheet of pork.
Serve immediately in tacos, burritos, salads, or whatever sounds good to you! Or cover and refrigerate or freeze. Source: www.gimmesomeoven.com
Buffalo Chicken Soup (From AllRecipes.com)
INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup butter
3 stalks celery, diced
1 small onion, diced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup half-and-half cream
3 cups water
1 cube chicken bouillon
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1/4 cup buffalo wing sauce, or more to
taste
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
1.Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat; cook the celery and onion in the melted butter until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flour and allow to cook until absorbed, about 2 minutes more. Slowly stir the half-and-half and water into the mixture. Dissolve the bouillon in the liquid. Stir in the chicken, buffalo wing sauce, and Cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stirring occasionally, allow the soup to simmer until the the cheese has melted completely, about 10 minutes.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2013 Allrecipes.comPrinted from Allrecipes.com 10/23/2013


5 Minute Brown Butter Chicken and Crispy Sage

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thawed)
salt and pepper
1/2 cup fresh sage leaves
1.5 – 2 tablespoons butter
1. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes), season generously with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.
2. Melt butter in a large, nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. When butter turns brown and fragrant, add the chicken in a single layer and arrange sage over the chicken.
3. Set the timer for five minutes. Cook the chicken on one side without moving for 2 minutes and 30 seconds until golden brown. Stir and toss chicken and sage, making sure to coat all in brown butter, then flip the chicken to the other side and cook for the remainder of the time. 
Note: I serve with Angel Hair Pasta tossed with fresh Parmesan Reggiano

Source: www.kevinandamanda.com

Thai Chicken Quinoa Bowl

YIELD: SERVES 2
 
TOTAL TIME: 30 MINUTES


1/2 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
1 chicken breast, cooked and shredded
1/3 cup chopped carrots
1/3 cup shelled edamame
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro

Sauce:
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon canned coconut milk
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon creamy peanut butter (it mixes in easier if it's melted, FYI)
1 garlic clove
1/2 lime, juice
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions:
Prepare quinoa according to directions, which will most likely call for 1 cup of liquid. I prefer to use low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock, so if you have that, use it!
While quinoa is cooking, combine all of the sauce ingredients together in a bowl and whisk well to combine. Once quinoa has absorbed all of the liquid, stir in the sauce and toss well to coat. Add in chicken, carrots, edamame and green onions, stirring to combine. Taste and season with a little salt and pepper if needed. Toss in half of the peanuts and cilantro, then serve in a large bowl, topped with remaining peanuts and cilantro. 
Note: I like to serve over a cabbage slaw or Basmati Rice

Monday, July 1, 2013

Day 4: The 30ish Days of Joy Challenge

Day 4 was much harder than the first 3.  When everything could have been wonderful it wasn't. Around 10:00 AM I thought all hope was lost for me to find joy as the kids were difficult and arguing. Around 1:15 our neighbours were leaving, they came over to play around 10:30, and Ellie was sad then I heard their youngest say to her "Don't worry Ellie, our moms are friends now so we can play anytime together".  This gave me reason to pause. This is joy. Joy is living making friendships with those around you! Joy is unexpected lunch dates. Joy is unexpected run-ins with "friends" at a local coffee shop. Joy is pool parties and BBQ's with friends. Joy is making new friends and valuing the ones you already have!!! Day 4, you tried to get me but I won!!! I found joy!!!

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Day 3: The 30ish Days of Joy Challenge

Oh Day 3! You were wonderful. At the beginning there was a rough start and when I arrived at church for worship practice I was struggling with feeling peaceful, but as soon as our worship leader for this week picked up the guitar and began to play I felt peaceful and joyful. Of course the first song was "I am Free"

Through you the blind will see
Through you the mute will sing
Through you the dead will rise
Through you all hearts will praise
Through you the darkness flees
Through you my heart screams
I am free, yes, I am free

I am free to run (I am free to run)
I am free to dance (I am free to dance)
I am free to live for you (I am free to live for you)
I am free (I am free)
Yes, I am free (I am free)

Through you the kingdom comes
Through you the battle's won
Through you I'm not afraid
Through you the price is paid
Through you there's victory
Because of you my soul sings
I am free, yes, I am free

Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed
Who the Son sets free
Is free indeed



Now please tell me how you could not be joyful after reading these lyrics? What a great song to sing in the midst of my 30 day challenge!!!  Today I found joy in several areas of my life.  I was able to joyfully worship with other believers. I was able to joyfully eat at the potluck as we welcomed a new person on staff at our church. I was able to joyfully go to the store with some money in my pocket to buy groceries for the dearest people on earth, my family of course. I was able to come home and make pizza for the family.  I was able to go out with my neighbour and get to know her better over Starbucks and all because my other neighbour gifted me with a gift card for watching her cats while she was away. (We all know the payment of kitties was enough for me).  While at Starbucks I ran into the kids I.A.'s/Crossing Guard at their school and we were able to talk to one another and I met her daughter. Also, she asked me to pray for her! I thought that was great. It is so wonderful to find joy when you are looking out for it!

I am so blessed. I appreciate the life that God has given me and I love that when you choose to be joyful, you find joy everywhere you look! 



Total side note...The Crossing Guard and IA also is an author so to my lady friends out there, if you're interested I recommend her book Dare To Repair.    Also, you can't be as lucky as me and get an autographed copy but it is a great book on home repair! LOVE IT!

Go be joyful!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

30 Days of Joy: Day 1 and Day 2

I have been really convicted as of late, that I have gotten into a funk and have stopped finding joy in my life. In Psalm 118:24 "This is the day that the Lord made; we WILL rejoice and be glad in it."
After a conversation with a good friend, that verse came to my mind. It doesn't say we wake up rejoicing in the new day, it says WE WILL rejoice and be glad. Joy is a choice. Happiness is a choice. It is choosing to see all that GOD has done for us and focusing on that instead of all that Satan is doing against us. For the next 30+ days I will keep track of what brought me joy that day.

Day 1:  We experienced joy by playing a game, went outside with friends, had a bbq with fellow members of the body of Christ.

Day 2: We experienced joy by swimming in our "pool", Little K "helped" our neighbour wash his car, Big K, Little E, and I played a game (which he beat me twice) we sat in the sun and chatted with our neighbours, enJOYed Starbucks, had great food from generous friends and neighbours. We also got our basement set up so we can enJOY more family time down there. Dane and Big E were able to do that by eating ice cream and watching a movie  as a reward for them helping a fellow friend and church member move their home.  I played a game with a good friend and neighbour. I am so thankful for these times and I know I want my children to see me JOYful and not stressed out all the time. I know I will not be perfect all the time and that everyone has failures but I know that with God I can find joy a bit more every day!