Spring For a Really Good Salad!

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a Pampered Chef party for a friend of mine at the school we work at.  Because I LOVE to cook so much and there are so many different recipes I want to make for our staff, I was unsure of what the food item should be.  Although our school does have a stove, I didn't want to make something that had to be fully cooked there.  I wanted to bring something that I could pre-cook at home.   I started looking through the Pampered Chef Spring Season's Best Catalog and this recipe IMMEDIATELY caught my eye.  It looked so fresh and simple to prepare.

I like to sample all my food before serving it, so I tasted the chicken I had prepared and it was sooooo very delicious.  I knew the rest of the dish would be equally tasty.  This is a beautiful, bright, and quick meal that the whole family will enjoy.

With school coming to a end and summer approaching, I have been looking for meals that will not take me long to prepare.  This week my meal plan will be geared to quick, but delicious recipes.  Have a great week cooking, baking, and/or crocking!

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Skillet

Ingredients:

1/4 of a 16oz loaf of soft Italian bread

3 tbsp canola oil (divided)

2 tbsp Crushed Peppercorn and Garlic Rub (or you can use garlic and herb seasoning)

1lb of boneless skinless chicken breast (or you can use chicken tenderloins)

2 1/2 cups of water

Season all and garlic powder

8oz uncooked rotini pasta

2 oz of Parmesan cheese (divided)

You can make your own dressing or just buy your favorite brand of Caesar dressing

Dressing ingredients: 

1 1/4 cups of Greek yogurt or sour cream

1 tbsp of Dijon mustard

1 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce

2 romaine lettuce hearts (or a bag of romaine lettuce)

Directions:

1. Cut bread into 1-in cubes and place in a micro-cooker.  Add 2 tbsp of the oil and 1/2 tbsp of the rub.  Toss to coat bread cubes.  Microwave, uncovered on HIGH 2-4 minutes stirring every 30 seconds until crisp.  Set aside croutons for topping.

2. Dice chicken into 1 inch pieces.  In a small bowl, mix chicken and 1 tbsp of rub, garlic powder, and season all until coated.  Heat remaining 1 tbsp oil over medium high heat for 1-3 minutes.  

3. Add chicken to skillet and cook 4-6 minutes stirring occasionally or until lightly browned.  Remove chicken from skillet to a bowl.  

4. Boil your water in a separate pot.  Cook pasta according to package directions.  When pasta is done, drain water and set aside.  

5. Tear lettuce into bite size pieces (or just use a bag).  In the skillet, add chicken, pasta, croutons, and grated cheese.  Then either add in store bought dressing or the homemade dressing.  DO NOT PUT TOO MUCH; you do not want soggy salad.  Toss well and then serve!

6. Directions for homemade dressing: In a bowl, add Parmesan , yogurt/sour cream, mustard, Worcestershire, and rub.  Mix well.  Cover and refrigerate until you are ready for it.

Weekly Menu Plan for April 28-May 3, 2014

Monday: Country Style Ribs in the oven

Tuesday: Leftover

Wednesday: Oven Baked BBQ chicken

Thursday: Leftover

Friday: Homemade pizza (one for kids: cheese/veggies and one for adults: meat/veggies)

Saturday: Dinner out

Sunday: Asiago Crusted Pork Chops

Casserole's Make Life So Much Easier

So I have decided that casseroles are my best friend.  I can get everything ready the night before, I can freeze whatever is left, and my favorite reason casseroles are my best friend, they last for more than ONE meal.  I have been looking all over the web and on Pinterest to find casserole dishes I know my family will eat.  Sometime in March, I posted a Dorito Casserole recipe; well today I am posting something similar to that, but in my opinion (and my husband's) better!  The featured recipe for this week is a taco casserole.  It cost less than $20.00 for all the ingredients (my kind of meal).  

If you have a recipe you want me to try OR you try any of my recipes, leave me a comment!  As usual, my weekly menu plan is listed below.  Have a great week of cooking and/or baking!

Recipe: Taco Casserole

Ingredients: 

1 pound lean ground beef
1 can (15 oz) chili beans
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
2 tablespoons of your favorite salsa
4 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tomato, chopped
2 cups tortilla chips
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

cooking spray

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add some cooking spray to the pan.  Season your ground beef with season all, garlic powder, and black pepper.  Cook beef and drain. 

Stir in beans, tomato sauce, salsa, chili powder and garlic powder. Heat to boiling.

 Place chips in un-greased 12x8x2-inch baking dish. Top with beef mixture. Spread with sour cream. Sprinkle with onions, tomatoes and cheese. 

Bake, uncovered, at 350F for 20-30 minutes or until hot. 

Arrange additional tortilla chips around edge of casserole. Serve with salsa on top.  

ENJOY!!!!!

Weekly Menu April 14-20th, 2014

Monday: Crock pot Teriyaki Beef Roast with Asparagus

Tuesday: Leftover

Wednesday: Grilled Pineapple Pork Chop with seasonal veggies

Thursday: Leftover

Friday: Bacon Cheeseburgers with oven truffle fries

Saturday: Leftover

Sunday: Easter Dinner (American and Guamanian BBQ)

Simple, but Delicious Chicken Bacon Melt

I know I have been posting a lot of chicken recipes, but I can't help it.  My family really loves chicken (plus I bought a lot of it at Sam's Club lol).  Earlier this week, I came home and my husband must have known I had a long day at work.  He told me to sit down, kick my feet up, and just relax.  He had already made the lunches for the kids, their clothes had been laid out for the next school day, and he was preparing dinner.  Although I am the "cook" of the house, my husband knows how to do a little something in the kitchen too.  One of my favorite quick and simple meals he makes is his delicious spicy chicken bacon club sandwich. 

While we were in Manhattan, Kansas we would eat at a place called So Long Saloon.  They had this sandwich called The Bird.  It was our favorite.  Nick and I tried so many times to duplicate it and even though we haven't mastered it, his version is pretty close.  I hope yours comes out just as good as Nick's. 

The second recipe is a dessert recipe I use to make all the time.  Lately my brother has been calling me all the time for recipes and he recently asked me for my caramel popcorn.  This weekend I went to my brother's place with my family for dinner and a movie.  During the movie we had some caramel popcorn.  So, I decided to post it here again. 

I have also listed my weekly menu below.  Have a great week cooking! 

Recipe: Chicken Bacon Melt

Ingredients:
 Sandwich bread
Chicken tenderloins
cooked bacon
spicy mustard (optional)
mayo
ketchup
Lettuce
Tomato
Pepper jack cheese (or your favorite cheese)
Tortilla Ribbons
Guacamole (optional)
Seasoning: Season all, garlic powder, black peeper, and a dash of cayenne pepper

Directions:
1. Wash your tenderloins.  Pat dry. Season your meat with the seasonings listed above.
2. We have a George Foreman grill, so we used that too cook our chicken.  If you do not have an indoor grill, you could also bake your chicken in the oven until cooked all the way through. It took 2-3 minutes on each side with the George Foreman grill.  When chicken is cooked, put to the side.
3. In a large skillet, cook your bacon (not too crispy).  When done, place to the side.

Making the sandwich
1. Toast your bread. Put mayo, spicy mustard and ketchup on the bread.  Put a slice of cheese on the bread.  then lay two or three pieces of chicken (enough to fill the bread) on the bread. 
2. On top of the chicken, add some bacon.  If you like guacamole, add that on top of the bacon.  If not, add the lettuce, tomato, and tortilla ribbons.  Put the other slice of bread on top.  Cut in half and ENJOY some goodness!

Recipe: Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup of brown sugar
1/2 Cup of butter
10 LARGE marshmallows
1 bag of popped popcorn

Directions:
1. Pop your bag of popcorn.  Place to the side. 
2. In a large bowl microwave butter until melted.  Add brown sugar and mix well.  Then add the marshmallows and melt until melted (about 1 minute 30 seconds to 2 minutes).  Pour the marshmallow mix on top of the already popped popcorn immediately.  Mix well.  Serve warm and ENJOY!

Weekly Menu:
Monday: Leftover Lasagna
Tuesday: Ranch and Cheez-It Crusted Chicken Drumsticks (Pinterest Recipe)

Wednesday: Leftover
Thursday: Taco Casserole
Friday: Leftover 
Saturday: Chipotle Crusted Pork Tenderloin (Pinterest Recipe)

Sunday: Leftover