Quick and Easy Family Dinners

With summer fading, no home cook wants to be chained to the kitchen when she can be making the most of what’s left of the beautiful weather. If you are looking for ways you can put nutritious and delicious dinners on the table for your family without having to spend a ton of time cooking and cleaning, then consider the following quick and easy recipes: FAST AND SIMPLE SOUTHWEST CHICKEN SAUTE Ingredients: 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts 1 tablespoon garlic salt 1 tablespoon cumin 1 teaspoon chili powder 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 cups salsa 1/4 cup chicken broth 1 … Continue reading →

Memorial Day Family Potluck Recipes

Hail, hail the long Memorial Day weekend is finally here. Time to gather the family and celebrate the start of the summer season. If you are hosting a holiday potluck or have scored an invitation to one, then consider the following simple recipes that can be made ahead of time and are tailored to please large groups: BAKED ITALIAN FEAST Ingredients: 1 pound penne, cooked al dente 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, cooked, and crumbled 3 cups heavy cream 2 cups crushed canned tomatoes 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided 1/4 cup Gorgonzola, crumbled 1/2 cup ricotta cheese 4 … Continue reading →

Nuts for Noodles

When consumed in moderation noodles can be very good for you. At least that’s what I tell myself after I devour an entire bowl full of my favorite Japanese soba noodles. Actually, buckwheat noodles, as well as gluten-free wheat pasta, can do a body good. The following noodle recipes also have dietary benefits. Plus, they are easy to make and taste fantastic: CHINESE NOODLE PACKETS Ingredients: 2 packages Ramen noodles 1 cup sliced mushrooms 1 sliced red pepper 2 cups Napa cabbage, chopped 4 fresh fish fillets (white, flaky fish like halibut or orange roughy) 1/2 cup sliced scallions 1/2 … Continue reading →

Homemade Mexican Meal

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Whether you are celebrating the day with a fabulous fiesta or you’re honoring the Mexican culture with a simple family meal, be sure to include the following tasty recipes in your festivities: TOTALLY TASTY TACO DIP Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1 package taco seasoning mix 2 (16 ounces) can refried beans 1/4 cup water 2 1/2 cups sour cream 4 cups shredded Iceberg lettuce 4 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese 1 (6 ounces) can sliced black olives 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno peppers Directions: In … Continue reading →

Hot and Spicy Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Spice up your Cinco de Mayo celebration with these sizzling hot Mexican recipes. They are easy to prepare and are sure to fire up your guests on the fifth of May: CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP Ingredients: 1 onion, finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped 1 12-ounce can of tomatoes 1 1/2 lbs. of cooked chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes 3 ears of fresh corn 2 tablespoons salsa 4 cups chicken broth Pinch of salt 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 8 corn tortillas Canola oil Sour cream for garnish Shredded mild cheddar cheese Directions: Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in … Continue reading →

More Simple Cinco de Mayo Sides

Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a full-blown fiesta? Even if you are just commemorating the day with a simple celebration, you should consider making the following sides. They’re easy to prepare (though, your guests would never know it) and are packed with authentic Mexican flavor. EASY SPANISH RICE Ingredients: 2 cups long grain white rice 1/4 cup canola oil 1 yellow onion cut into 1-inch chunks 1 bell pepper any color, cut into 1-inch pieces 3 cloves of garlic, minced 3/4 cup tomato puree 2 teaspoons sea salt 2 3/4 cups of chicken broth 3/4 cup of frozen … Continue reading →

Recipes for an International Buffet

Looking to spice up your next get together? Then go global. Just because the economy has forced you to put your ‘round the world travel plans on hold, doesn’t mean you can’t experience a smorgasbord of diverse flavors. Fire up the stove, invite your friends over and put these international recipes to the test: JAMBALAYA Ingredients: 1 diced green pepper 1 diced small onion 3 stalks celery 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 pound smoked sausage, sliced into pieces 2 (15-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice 2 cups chicken broth 1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut in 1-inch pieces Dash hot … Continue reading →

Simple Southwestern Recipes

Give meat and potatoes a rest tonight, and go west home cooks. Southwestern cuisine is simple to prepare and packs a punch in the flavor department. What’s more, the ingredients needed to create the following Southwestern dishes won’t put a major dent in your family’s food budget, which means you can make more for less. SOUTHWESTERN APPETIZERS Ingredients: 8 ounces cream cheese 1 cup shredded cheese 2 1/2 tablespoons your favorite salsa 1 tablespoon sour cream 2 flour tortillas (8-inch) 3/4 cups green pepper, finely chopped 3/4 any other pepper, finely chopped 1/2 cup sweet onion, finely chopped Directions: Mix … Continue reading →

More Pasta Party Recipes

In my previous blog I suggested employing a simple yet delicious pasta theme for your next gourmet get together. The following recipes are easy and affordable additions to the classic Italian dishes I featured in my last entry. BOWTIE PASTA AND CHICKEN Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 3 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces 1/2 cup diced red and yellow pepper 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon dried marjoram 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 cup chicken broth 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup diced sun dried tomatoes 1 cup … Continue reading →

Pasta Party

The Easter brunch we attended at a local hotel had the most amazing pasta bar. It allowed you to select your favorite ingredients, hand them over to a chef, and within minutes—PRESTO—a piping hot, made-to-order pasta creation was ready for your dining pleasure. The buffet got me thinking about how easy it would be to host your own pasta party using the same set-up as the hotel. Simply set out a number of different pastas (angel hair, penne, rigatoni, etc.) and sauces, along with mushrooms, sausage, green peppers, plump Roma tomatoes, plus a host of different cheeses, and you’ve got … Continue reading →