Month: September 2010

Easy Oven Chow Mein

This was an old favorite recipe of my family’s that I made a lot when the kids were young. It is easy and needs only a salad or vegetable to complete the meal.

Directions

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cups chopped celery
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • pepper to taste
  • 2 cups boiling water
  • 1 can cream of mushroom soup or 1 cup milk
  • 1 small can mushrooms (optional)

Directions
Brown ground beef, add remaining ingredients and place in a casserole dish. Cover and bake @ 350 degees for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Remove the cover for last 15 minutes of cooking.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This is truly an old family favorite recipe. I first had this dish in the 80’s at a friend’s house. It is so good and flavorful. Everytime I have served it for someone they have requested the recipe. It is easy and will not disappoint!

Ingredients

  • 1 chicken, baked and chopped (can use Chicken Breast or use a broasted chicken from the deli)
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cans cream of chicken soup
  • 1 can chopped green chilies
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
  • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, shredded
  • 9 corn tortillas (flour ones don’t work too well)

Directions

Saute onions in butter. Add soup, chilies, chicken, and cumin. In greased casserole, approx size 8×8, make 2 layers: tortilla,chicken mixture, cheese. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve with salsa and/or sour cream, if desired. If you make this dish ahead and it is cold when you bake it, you will need to increase the baking time.

Southwest Black Bean Dip

Black Beans
Black Beans
This is a great recipe for dipping tortilla chips. It is a nice change from salsa. It’s super easy, too. It will surely become a favorite recipe to make for your next get-together.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tblsp lime juice
  • 2 tsps olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp Cumin
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 cups fresh or frozen corn, thaw and drain if using frozen
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1 large red bell pepper, chopped

    • Directions
    Mix the lime juice, olive oil, cumin, red pepper flakes, and salt in bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and toss.

    Blue Cheese Spread Appetizer

    This is a really tasty cheese spread. It is the a great appetizer and is so easy to make. It has become one of my favorite recipes for entertaining ladies.

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    • 2 ounces (1/2 cup) crumbled blue cheese, room temperature
    • 1 to 3 tbsp toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
    • 1 tbsp chives, chopped
    • 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
    • Sourdough or French bread, thinly sliced

    Directions
    Mix together the cream cheese, blue cheese, walnuts, chives and parsley. Do not over-mix. Serve with sliced bread.

    Whole Wheat Pancakes

    Whole Wheat Pancakes
    Whole Wheat Pancakes
    This is an old favorite recipe of mine. I love whole grains and these pancakes are tasty, healthy and hearty. Of course, they are best with real maple syrup too!

    Ingredients

    • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
    • 2 tbsp wheat germ
    • 2 tsp baking powder
    • 1/2 tsp salt
    • 1 cup milk
    • 1 tbsp honey
    • 1 egg, lightly beaten
    • 1 tbsp oil

    Directions

    1. Mix dry ingredients.
    2. Add milk, honey and oil, stirring just until moistened.
    3. Cook on preheated griddle.

    Mandarin Orange Chinese Salad

    Mandarin Oranges
    Mandarin Oranges
    This is always a crowd pleaser and so easy to make. It is one of my favorite recipes to make for potlucks. You will love it, too.

    Ingredients

    • 1 large bag shredded cabbage with carrots
    • 2 pkg ramen noodles (do not cook), beef flavored, crushed into small pieces
    • 2 small cans Mandarin oranges
    • 1/2 cup sliced almonds
    • 2 bunches green onions, sliced
    • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
    • 1/4 cup white vinegar
    • 2 packages beef seasoning from noodles
    • 1/4 cup sugar

    Directions

    1. Mix together the cabbage, noodles, oranges, almonds, and onions in a large bowl.
    2. Mix the oil, vinegar, sugar and seasoning together.
    3. Pour dressing over dry ingredients in bowl.

    Let set at least one hour before serving

    Easy Marinara Sauce

    Marinara Sauce
    Marinara Sauce
    This is a super easy and delicious Marinara sauce and has become my favorite recipe for a tomato based sauce. You can add some ground beef to it to make a hearty meat sauce if you like.

    Ingredients

    • 2- 14.5 oz cans of Italian tomatoes
    • 1- 6 oz can tomato paste
    • 4 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 tsp dried oregano
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 1/2 tsp black pepper
    • 6 tbsp olive oil
    • 1/3 cup finely diced onion
    • 1/2 cup red or white wine

    Directions

    1. In a food processor or blender, place tomatoes, tomato paste, chopped parsley, minced garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.
    2. In a large skillet saute the chopped onion over a medium heat in the olive oil for 2 minutes.
    3. Add the blended tomato sauce and the wine.
    4. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Serve over your favorite pasta.

    Categories
    My Favorite Recipes

    Halibut with Asian Cilantro Sauce

    Halibut with Asian Cilantro Sauce
    Halibut with Asian Cilantro Sauce
    I really love this sauce and this is my favorite recipe for a sauce for fish. It is excellent with halibut, but would be good on other types as fish as well. You can bake the halibut any way you like. I prefer to lightly season mine with salt, pepper and paprika and bake in a convection oven. It is important not to overcook fish, so I always use a meat thermometer and cook it until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Convection oven cooking works great for fish.

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves
    • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
    • 1 tbsp minced, peeled, fresh ginger
    • 1 green onion, chopped
    • 1 jalapeno chili pepper, chopped
    • 3 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 tsp Asian sesame oil
    • 1 tsp soy sauce
    • salt, to taste
    • 2 – 8 oz halibut fillets, cooked

    Directions
    Place all ingredients except halibut in food processor and puree. Serve over cooked halibut.

    Craisin Spinach Salad

    This is a really easy and tasty salad recipe. It is always a hit at potlucks. It will become one of your favorite recipes.

    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 tbsp butter
    • 3/4 cup almonds, blanched and slivered
    • 1 lb spinach, rinsed and torn into bite size pieces
    • 1 cup Craisins
    • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
    • 1 tbsp poppy seeds
    • 1/2 cup sugar
    • 2 tsp minced onion
    • 1/4 tsp paprika
    • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
    • 1/4 cup cider vinegar
    • 1/2 cup olive oil

    Instructions

    1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
    2. Cook and stir almonds in butter until lightly toasted. Remove from heat and let cool.
    3. In a large bowl, combine the spinach with the toasted almonds and Craisins.
    4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sugar, onion, paprika, white wine vinegar, cider vinegar and olive oil.
    5. Toss with spinach just before serving.