by Natalie Pelfrey
1 tube of ready made pizza crust (or you can make your own if you are a stud)
sesame seeds (sprinkled on crust)
Bake the crust at 425 for around 5 minutes or until it little golden brown. Take it out and let it cool for awhile.
Then spread mayo all over the crust and top with:
Monterey Jack cheese
basil (fresh or dried)
thinly sliced deli turkey
real bacon, crumbled
thinly sliced tomatoes
swiss cheese
Throw it back in the oven for 7-9 minutes or until crust is light brown and cheese is melted.
One of my favorite recipes!
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Cashew-Chicken Rotini Salad
by Natalie Pelfrey
1 pkg rotini or spiral pasta
4 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 20 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
1.5 c sliced celery
3/4 c sliced green onions
1 c green grapes
1 c red grapes
1 pkg dried cranberries
1 c ranch dressing
3/4 c mayo
2 c salted cashews
Combine everything together. Whisk ranch and mayo. Toss to coat, refrigerate. Put in cashews just before serving. CHOW DOWN. Yummy!
1 pkg rotini or spiral pasta
4 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 20 oz can pineapple tidbits, drained
1.5 c sliced celery
3/4 c sliced green onions
1 c green grapes
1 c red grapes
1 pkg dried cranberries
1 c ranch dressing
3/4 c mayo
2 c salted cashews
Combine everything together. Whisk ranch and mayo. Toss to coat, refrigerate. Put in cashews just before serving. CHOW DOWN. Yummy!
Creamy Chicken and Black Beans
from: Tara Flake
Original Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken W/ Black Beans and Cream Cheese...yum!
Ingredients:
4 -5 boneless chicken breasts (I've also used less)
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans (drained, but not rinsed)
1 (15 ounce) can corn (drained, or an equal amount of frozen corn)
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, your favorite kind
1 TBSP minced garlic (or less, we LOVE garlic)
a few good shakes of cumin and ground red pepper or chili powder (for heat)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
cliantro for garnish
Directions:
1. Place 2-4 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts into a crock pot.
2. Add beans, salsa, corn and spices.
3. Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
4. Add 1 package of cream cheese, cut up (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour.
5. Stir in the now-melted cream cheese and shred or cut the chicken and serve over rice or egg noodles. Sprinkle with cilantro if you like it.
Original Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken W/ Black Beans and Cream Cheese...yum!
Ingredients:
4 -5 boneless chicken breasts (I've also used less)
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can black beans (drained, but not rinsed)
1 (15 ounce) can corn (drained, or an equal amount of frozen corn)
1 (15 ounce) jar salsa, your favorite kind
1 TBSP minced garlic (or less, we LOVE garlic)
a few good shakes of cumin and ground red pepper or chili powder (for heat)
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
cliantro for garnish
Directions:
1. Place 2-4 frozen, yes, frozen, boneless chicken breasts into a crock pot.
2. Add beans, salsa, corn and spices.
3. Keep in crock pot on high for about 4-5 hours or until chicken is cooked.
4. Add 1 package of cream cheese, cut up (just throw it on top!) and let sit for about 1/2 hour.
5. Stir in the now-melted cream cheese and shred or cut the chicken and serve over rice or egg noodles. Sprinkle with cilantro if you like it.
Baked Dijon Salmon
from: Tara Flake
Original Recipe: Baked Dijon Salmon
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, or regular mustard with a dash of horseradish if you have it
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs or cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional or use another nut)
4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon, or just one or two big fillets
salt and pepper to taste
lemon for garnish
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley.
3.Brush each salmon fillet with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture.
4.Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon.
Original Recipe: Baked Dijon Salmon
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard, or regular mustard with a dash of horseradish if you have it
1 1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs or cracker crumbs
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans (optional or use another nut)
4 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
4 (4 ounce) fillets salmon, or just one or two big fillets
salt and pepper to taste
lemon for garnish
Directions
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.In a small bowl, stir together butter, mustard, and honey. Set aside. In another bowl, mix together bread crumbs, pecans, and parsley.
3.Brush each salmon fillet with honey mustard mixture, and sprinkle the tops of the fillets with the bread crumb mixture.
4.Bake salmon 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, or until it flakes easily with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, and garnish with a wedge of lemon.
Sweet & Spicy Baby Back Ribs (in the oven!)
from: Tara Flake
Original recipe: Beth's Melt in Your Mouth Barbecue Ribs
Ingredients:
4 lbs pork back or pork baby back ribs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
Your favorite barbecue sauce (mine is Sweet Baby Rays - any of the sweet and spicy varieties)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees f.
2. Peel off tough membrane that covers the bony side of the ribs. You can do this by working a spoon or the tips of kitchen sheers into the bottom center of the membrane, work it back and forth to form a "pocket" then slide your thumbs in and work the membrane off from the center outward to the ends. Every once in a while I'll get a rack that doesn't cooperate and I just leave the membrane.
3. Brush the rack with the liquid smoke. (I just use my hands!)
4. Mix dry ingredients and apply rub to ribs on all sides.
5. Lay ribs on a baking pan on top of two layers of foil (side by side and crimped together to make one wide piece that hangs over the sides of the pan), shiny side out and meaty side down. You can also cut the rack into portions and it will cook a little more evenly.
6. Lay two sheets of foil (crimped together to make one wide sheet again) on top of ribs and roll and crimp edges to the bottom layer tightly, edges facing up to seal.
7. Place on baking sheet and bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until meat is starting to shrink away from the ends of the bone.
8. Remove from oven and either brush with your favorite sauce or dip it on your plate. Alternately, you can brush the sauce on the meaty side and then place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the sauce gets bubbly and sticky on the ribs. This is nice, but usually sets my smoke alarm off so we just dip it :)
*note* It helps to spray BOTH the pan and foil for easy clean up... this is super messy with the cooked sugar and meat juices!
Original recipe: Beth's Melt in Your Mouth Barbecue Ribs
Ingredients:
4 lbs pork back or pork baby back ribs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper (optional)
Your favorite barbecue sauce (mine is Sweet Baby Rays - any of the sweet and spicy varieties)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees f.
2. Peel off tough membrane that covers the bony side of the ribs. You can do this by working a spoon or the tips of kitchen sheers into the bottom center of the membrane, work it back and forth to form a "pocket" then slide your thumbs in and work the membrane off from the center outward to the ends. Every once in a while I'll get a rack that doesn't cooperate and I just leave the membrane.
3. Brush the rack with the liquid smoke. (I just use my hands!)
4. Mix dry ingredients and apply rub to ribs on all sides.
5. Lay ribs on a baking pan on top of two layers of foil (side by side and crimped together to make one wide piece that hangs over the sides of the pan), shiny side out and meaty side down. You can also cut the rack into portions and it will cook a little more evenly.
6. Lay two sheets of foil (crimped together to make one wide sheet again) on top of ribs and roll and crimp edges to the bottom layer tightly, edges facing up to seal.
7. Place on baking sheet and bake for 2 1/2 to 3 hours or until meat is starting to shrink away from the ends of the bone.
8. Remove from oven and either brush with your favorite sauce or dip it on your plate. Alternately, you can brush the sauce on the meaty side and then place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until the sauce gets bubbly and sticky on the ribs. This is nice, but usually sets my smoke alarm off so we just dip it :)
*note* It helps to spray BOTH the pan and foil for easy clean up... this is super messy with the cooked sugar and meat juices!
Braised Chicken Thighs
from: Tara Flake
Original Recipe: Emeril's Braised Chicken Thighs
This is time consuming, (simmers for almost an hour) but very easy. Just plan ahead!
Ingredients
4-6 chicken thighs (about 2 pounds), trimmed of any skin or fat. (Either boneless or bone-in is fine)
1-2 tablespoons Emeril's Original Essence or Creole Seasoning (you can buy Emeril's Original Essence or make your own; I make this dinner a lot so I make my own)
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter (or dairy-free margarine for lucky girls like me)
2 cups thinly sliced yellow or white onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
a few dashes of dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups chicken stock or canned, low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Cooked white rice or mashed potatoes, for serving
Cooking Directions
Season the chicken all over with the Essence. Place the 1/2 cup flour in a small bowl, and quickly dredge both sides of each thigh in the flour, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
Heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a 10- to 12-inch flameproof casserole or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and when it has melted, place the chicken in the pan. Brown for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan, and when it has melted, add the onions, garlic, thyme and the black pepper. Cook, stirring as needed, until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour over the onions and cook for 2 minutes longer. Then whisk in the chicken stock and increase the heat to high. Return the chicken to the pan, and bring the stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a heavy, tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Uncover the pan, stir the bottom of the pan to prevent scorching, and turn the chicken over. Cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes longer.
Stir the bottom of the pan a final time, turn chicken over and re-cover, and simmer for 20 more minutes. Add the parsley to the sauce, stir to combine, and then serve the chicken over rice or mashed potatoes with the sauce on top. If the sauce is a little thin, continue to simmer and add a little cornstarch/flour and water slurry to thicken.
Original Recipe: Emeril's Braised Chicken Thighs
This is time consuming, (simmers for almost an hour) but very easy. Just plan ahead!
Ingredients
4-6 chicken thighs (about 2 pounds), trimmed of any skin or fat. (Either boneless or bone-in is fine)
1-2 tablespoons Emeril's Original Essence or Creole Seasoning (you can buy Emeril's Original Essence or make your own; I make this dinner a lot so I make my own)
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter (or dairy-free margarine for lucky girls like me)
2 cups thinly sliced yellow or white onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
a few dashes of dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 cups chicken stock or canned, low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Cooked white rice or mashed potatoes, for serving
Cooking Directions
Season the chicken all over with the Essence. Place the 1/2 cup flour in a small bowl, and quickly dredge both sides of each thigh in the flour, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
Heat 1 teaspoon of the olive oil in a 10- to 12-inch flameproof casserole or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of the butter, and when it has melted, place the chicken in the pan. Brown for 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter to the pan, and when it has melted, add the onions, garlic, thyme and the black pepper. Cook, stirring as needed, until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon flour over the onions and cook for 2 minutes longer. Then whisk in the chicken stock and increase the heat to high. Return the chicken to the pan, and bring the stock to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan with a heavy, tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
Uncover the pan, stir the bottom of the pan to prevent scorching, and turn the chicken over. Cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes longer.
Stir the bottom of the pan a final time, turn chicken over and re-cover, and simmer for 20 more minutes. Add the parsley to the sauce, stir to combine, and then serve the chicken over rice or mashed potatoes with the sauce on top. If the sauce is a little thin, continue to simmer and add a little cornstarch/flour and water slurry to thicken.
Mango Coconut Curry
from: Tara Flake
Original Recipe: Spicy Indian Chicken and Mango Curry
2 large or 3 medium mangoes, peeled and diced, divided
1 (10 ounce) can coconut milk
1 TBSP curry powder
3/4 tsp salt
14 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces (we like dark meat, but white meat would work too!)
4 green onions, sliced
1 large zucchini, diced
1 TBSP minced garlic
olive oil
ground ginger
ground red pepper
more curry powder
Directions
1. Place half of the mango slices into a blender with the coconut milk, 3/4 tsp salt and 1 TBSP curry powder. Also, squeeze the mango pits between your hands over the blender to get every last drop if mango pulp and juice. Messy but worth it! Blend until smooth and set aside.
2. Heat a little olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with curry powder, ground red pepper (to your spicy-tolerance level), and a little ginger. Add the chicken, garlic and green onion to the oil; cook until the chicken is almost done, about 5 minutes.
3. Add diced zucchini and saute until chicken is done and zucchini is starting to soften.
4. Pour in the mango puree and add the remaining diced mango add and cook until heated through. Sprinkle a little ground ginger in and stir. This is where I take some out for the kids, then go on and add more curry powder, salt and red pepper until it's spicy/flavorful enough for the adults. Every curry powder is different, and some already come spicy. With some brands, I don't have to add much while other brands require a few more teaspoons. Just experiment and taste as you go!
5. Serve over basmati or jasmine rice to be authentic, or plain old white or brown rice if you aren't trying to impress anyone :)
*note* Try other diced veggies - white onions, bell peppers, squash... garnish with thinly sliced cucumbers...lots of possibilities!
Original Recipe: Spicy Indian Chicken and Mango Curry
2 large or 3 medium mangoes, peeled and diced, divided
1 (10 ounce) can coconut milk
1 TBSP curry powder
3/4 tsp salt
14 ounces skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces (we like dark meat, but white meat would work too!)
4 green onions, sliced
1 large zucchini, diced
1 TBSP minced garlic
olive oil
ground ginger
ground red pepper
more curry powder
Directions
1. Place half of the mango slices into a blender with the coconut milk, 3/4 tsp salt and 1 TBSP curry powder. Also, squeeze the mango pits between your hands over the blender to get every last drop if mango pulp and juice. Messy but worth it! Blend until smooth and set aside.
2. Heat a little olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with curry powder, ground red pepper (to your spicy-tolerance level), and a little ginger. Add the chicken, garlic and green onion to the oil; cook until the chicken is almost done, about 5 minutes.
3. Add diced zucchini and saute until chicken is done and zucchini is starting to soften.
4. Pour in the mango puree and add the remaining diced mango add and cook until heated through. Sprinkle a little ground ginger in and stir. This is where I take some out for the kids, then go on and add more curry powder, salt and red pepper until it's spicy/flavorful enough for the adults. Every curry powder is different, and some already come spicy. With some brands, I don't have to add much while other brands require a few more teaspoons. Just experiment and taste as you go!
5. Serve over basmati or jasmine rice to be authentic, or plain old white or brown rice if you aren't trying to impress anyone :)
*note* Try other diced veggies - white onions, bell peppers, squash... garnish with thinly sliced cucumbers...lots of possibilities!
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