Friday, May 27, 2011

Favorite French Onion Soup

served here with a pesto chicken panini


All time favorite at this house, so I have tweaked and tweaked till I am really happy with this recipe.

Favorite French Onion Soup


Ingredients:
3 Large Vidalia Onions sliced
2 Leeks sliced
1 Fennel bulb chopped
mushrooms
Thyme
black pepper
olive or canola oil
6 oz red wine
beef broth (use Vegetable broth to make it vegetarian)
Gruyere cheese
good bread



Directions:
Saute in large deep pan or stock pot with oil onions, fennel, leeks till carmalized.  Add mushrooms, Thyme to taste, pepper and saute a few more minutes.  Deglaze pan with red wine let cook about a minute then add broth to cover vegetables, let simmer for at least 30 minutes while simmering taste to see if you'd like more spice.  Toast bread and cut into cubes.  Slice cheese.

Ladle soup into oven proof bowls till full, put toasted bread cubes on top lay cheese over top and broil till bubbly.  Let sit a few minutes before serving.




















Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Taco Casserole

The quick, easy meal everyone eats.  It can't be made healthier or you can splurge either way most everyone will enjoy it.

Taco Casserole


meat--ground beef or shredded chicken 
onion - chopped
pepper- chopped
taco seasoning (low sodium you can't tell the difference)
grated cheese
tortilla chips
shredded lettuce
tomato
greek yogurt


Saute the meat till just cooked with the onions and peppers.  Add seasoning packet with about 3/4 cup water let simmer about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile in 13 x 9 baking dish layer bottom with tortilla chips.  Empty saute pan onto chips, top with grated cheese and bake @ 350 till cheese melts.

Serve with: shredded lettuce, tomato, greek yogurt, avacado, you can add black beans, refried beans to meat mixture while it is simmering, or any chopped cooked vegies to boost the vegie intake.




bake till cheese melts






Thursday, May 19, 2011

Raspberry, Almond, Brie Baked Chicken


I came up with this recipe just using combinations I like together and putting it with Chicken.  I have another recipe For "Strawberry Parmesan Chicken" that I found in Better Homes and Garden magazine (a favorite magazine)  click here:  BHG recipe for their recipe.  Which is delicious, I will add that to this blog eventually.  I shouldn't really call this a recipe you really just put the ingredients in a dish and bake---so so simple.  Chicken comes out really moist flavors bake and meld together.  This makes a nice presentation, it would be great for company and so easy.  I served it with prosciutto wrapped asparagus baked at the same time as the chicken.  Tomato Bruschetta recipe follows.


Raspberry, Almond, Brie Baked Chicken

boneless, skinless chicken breasts
brie
sliced almonds
raspberries
raspberry jam
Basalmic Vinegar

Slice the chicken horizontally to form a pocket, lay slice of brie cheese inside and fold over.  In bottom of baking dish drizzle some olive oil, then place some dollops of jam, lay chicken with brie on top sprinkle with raspberries and almonds then drizzle with the Basalmic.



ready for the oven
Bake 350 degrees for 30 min.


baked











Bruschetta







Tomato chopped into small chunks
olive oil
Basil
Italian Seasoning
Bake 350 for about 20min

I roasted a head of garlic while chicken cooked, grilled some whole grain bread, spread garlic onto bread, scooped tomato on top --- Yum.

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Jello Cream Pie with pretzel crust





This is low sugar/low carb/low calorie for when you want a dessert but you are trying to loosen your clothes.  Actually it is pretty yummy anyway.  The salt in the pretzels and the tart of the berries are great together.  This is a take on an old 70's dessert with a pretzel crust,  strawberry jello with strawberries and there was a layer with a cream cheese mixture, it was light and refreshing.  The recipe is here at Taste of Home magazine if you want the original Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Recipe  Great for summer picnics.


Pretzels (you can get the multigrain, Flax or Spelt to make it a little healthier)
1 stick butter softened
l large sugar free jello (strawberry & raspberry are good with the pretzels)
1 container sugar free cool whip thawed
berries chopped

Put pretzels into food processor (I have never measured this but about 2 cups pretzel crumbs after processed)  add the butter and process till it resembles a graham cracker crust mixture.  Empty into pie plate, press with bottom of measuring cup into pie plate and up sides.  Bake at 350 for 10 min.


Mix jello as package directs with boiling water, then do the quick method of adding ice water stir till ice is melted, add chopped berries.  Let set in refrigerator for a few minutes till it starts to thicken, then mix in half of cool whip pour into cooled crust and return to fridge.  Top with remainder of cool whip.


bake about 10min
It will get just a little more golden in color

mix jello with ice to speed thickening





top with more cool whip


Jello Cream Pie with pretzel crust





This is low sugar/low carb/low calorie for when you want a dessert but you are trying to loosen your clothes.  Actually it is pretty yummy anyway.  The salt in the pretzels and the tart of the berries are great together.  This is a take on an old 70's dessert with a pretzel crust,  strawberry jello with strawberries and there was a layer with a cream cheese mixture, it was light and refreshing.  The recipe is here at Taste of Home magazine if you want the original Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Recipe  Great for summer picnics.


Pretzels (you can get the multigrain to make it a little healthier)
1 stick butter softened
l large sugar free jello (strawberry & raspberry are good with the pretzels)
1 container sugar free cool whip thawed
berries chopped

Put pretzels into food processor (I have never measured this but about 2 cups pretzel crumbs after processed)  add the butter and process till it resembles a graham cracker crust mixture.  Empty into pie plate, press with bottom of measuring cup into pie plate and up sides.  Bake at 350 for 10 min.


Mix jello as package directs with boiling water, then do the quick method of adding ice water stir till ice is melted, add chopped berries.  Let set in refrigerator for a few minutes till it starts to thicken, then mix in half of cool whip pour into cooled crust and return to fridge.  Top with remainder of cool whip.




bake about 10min
It will get just a little more golden in color

mix jello with ice to speed thickening



top with more cool whip


Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Lime Grilled Chicken

Great weather has finally arrived so I fired up the grill.  Normally I would grill year round but this year the snow didn't leave the deck till March and having been busy with Spring tennis coaching I am just getting the grill going.

Marinate:

lime zest from 4 limes
lime juice from 4 limes
tequila
triple sec
canola oil
salt & pepper
crushed red pepper
parsley
cilantro

add boneless skinless chicken breasts (I had butterflied these) let sit about 1/2 an hour or so.
Grill till done, baste if you like.

I served it with Mac & Cheese I had made earlier in the day and roasted Broccoli.

simple & quick