Monday, September 30, 2019

slow cooker adobo chicken












I just found my new favorite adobo chicken recipe.  This was sooo good.  One of my kids ate before I got home with the others and reported that dinner was awesome.  I have to agree.  So incredibly flavorful and so easy to make.

slow cooker adobo chicken (adapted from Cooking Light's Global Kitchen Cookbook)
cooking spray
6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 cups chopped onion
5 garlic cloves, minced
6 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 bay leaf
steamed jasmine rice

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray.  Place chicken thighs in the bottom of the slow cooker.  Sprinkle the chopped onion on top.  In a bowl or measuring cup, combine the soy sauce, water, vinegar, honey and black pepper.  Pour over the chicken and onions.  Place a bay leaf in the slow cooker.  Turn the slow cooker on high and cook for 6 hours.  (It probably doesn't need that long but that's how long I cooked mine for.)

Thursday, September 26, 2019

avocado salsa (guasacaca)











Hall of Fame!  This avocado salsa is sooooo delicious.  I am so happy to have this recipe.  It's fresh, zesty, salty and creamy.  Perfect.  

avocado salsa (guasacaca) (adapted slightly from Cooking Light's Global Kitchen Cookbook)
2 cups finely chopped onion
3/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped seeded jalapeno pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (cut from 3 tablespoons)
3 tablespoons white vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 cups chopped peeled avocado (about 2)
1 1/2 cups chopped seeded plum tomato (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Combine first 9 ingredients in a large bowl; toss mixture gently.  Cover and refrigerate 3 hours.  Stir in avocado and remaining ingredients just before serving.  Serves 24 (serving size 1/4 cup)
Note:  It's so good there's no way 1/4 cup is enough for me.  A serving size for me is half this recipe! :)

Sunday, September 8, 2019

creamy lemon chicken, broccoli & rice casserole





















YUM.  This is NOT that chicken and rice casserole with the cream of mushroom soup that everyone made in the 90's.  This is so lemony and garlicky and parmesan-y and creamy.  It was sooooo good.  Everyone cleaned their plates.

creamy lemon chicken, broccoli & rice casserole (eat yourself skinny)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
juice of 1 lemon, or 2 tablespoons
1 teaspoon fresh thyme (I used dried)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
3/4 cup uncooked long grain white rice (I used instant brown rice)
2 cups broccoli florets 
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces and seasoned with salt
1/3 cup breadcrumbs
lemon slices to garnish, if desired

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  In a large skillet on medium heat, drizzle olive oil and saute the garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.  Add chicken broth, heavy cream, lemon juice, thyme, red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and bring to a simmer.  Mix in a 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and remove from heat.
In a large 9x13 casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray, combine broccoli, rice and chicken and pour sauce over the top making sure everything is coated.  Top with breadcrumbs and remaining Parmesan cheese.
Tightly cover the casserole with foil and bake for 35 minutes then remove the foil and bake an additional 10 minutes uncovered.
Let the casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving. (Garnish with lemon slices if desired.)

Thursday, September 5, 2019

grilled chili lime chicken fajita salad











SO delicious!  So delicious I want to eat dinner all over again right now.  But it's gone.  Absolutely nothing is left of it.  My husband said it was really good.  A daughter said it was amazing.  It really was.
Note:  The marinade/dressing is outstanding.

grilled chili lime chicken fajita salad (cafedelights.com)
marinade/dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/3 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons cilantro
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt

salad:
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 red bell pepper, sliced
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
5 cups romaine, cut
2 avocados, peeled and diced

Marinate chicken in half of the dressing for 2 hours to overnight.  Save the other half of the dressing to use as the salad dressing.
Grill the chicken thighs.  You know how to do that.  Just grill until they're done.
Fry the onions and peppers in a frying pan.
On a large platter, arrange the romaine, grilled chicken, peppers & onions and avocados.  Pour the dressing over the top.  Sprinkle with cilantro leaves.  Serve with toasted tortillas.




Tuesday, September 3, 2019

30 minute cajun salmon with salted lime butter











Sooo good.  My kids thought it was a little spicy but there's no way I'll tone it down.  We thought it was just right.
I lightened up the recipe a bit and it tastes so good we don't miss the extra oil and butter.

30 minute cajun salmon with salted lime butter (adapted from howsweeteats)
2 pound salmon filet
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

salted lime butter
combine the following:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat the broiler in your oven to high and set the oven rack about 6 inches below it.
Place the salmon on a baking pan that is lined with aluminum foil.
In a bowl combine the paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, garlic, onion powder and red pepper flakes.  Sprinkle evenly over the top of the salmon filet and  press gently to adhere.
Broil the salmon for 6-8 minutes or until just opaque and flakey with a fork.  Remove from the oven and cover with the lime butter.  Serve with rice and lime wedges for spritzing.


Monday, September 2, 2019

three bean salad











We had a salad bar for dinner tonight.  I always forget how much I love a good salad bar with lots of options.  I love this 3-bean salad because there's no added sugar.  Too many times 3-beans salads are mostly sugar.  I thought this recipe was perfect for me.

three bean salad
1 (15 ounce) can cut green beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1/4 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 yellow onion, finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar

Pour all the beans into a large bowl.  Add the pepper and onion and gently combine.  In a small bowl combine the oil, vinegar, garlic powder, pepper and salt.  Pour over the beans and careful mix to combine.  Allow to marinate 4+ hours.  

easy whole wheat bread











I was looking for a whole wheat bread recipe without sugar or fat.  This bread is terrific and SOOOO quick and easy to make.  Delicious bread in under 2 hours.  Did I mention it has only 4 ingredients?

easy whole wheat bread (spartanlifeblog.com)
4 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast, or 1 packet
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (I thought this was too much!)
2 cups warm water
optional:  rolled oats to sprinkle on top before baking

In a large bowl mix together the flour, yeast and salt.  Then pour in the warm water and knead with your hands until a dough forms (the dough will be sticky and that's ok).
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rest in a draft free place for 1 hour.
After I hour preheat your oven to 400 F and line a round baking dish with parchment paper.
Transfer the dough to the round baking dish.  Shake the dish so the dough settles into the space of the dish evenly, or pat it gently with your hands to fill it.
Let the dough rest another 30 minutes.
Score the dough with a knife (criss-cross shape in the center) and sprinkle it with oatmeal (I rubbed my bread with a little olive oil first).
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the crust is a deep golden brown.