Chicken, Pesto, and Spinach Quinoa

I've been wanting to try quinoa since it seems to be everywhere now!  This was the first recipe I've made, and I really liked the way it turned out.  The cheese and pesto help to give it a creamier taste, so it doesn't seem dried out.  I'm definitely going to be trying some other quinoa recipes in the future!

Photo from Sea Jet Cook

Chicken, Pesto, and Spinach Quinoa
From: Sea Jet Cook
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 chicken breasts
3 big handfuls of fresh spinach (about 3 cups)
6 tablespoons pesto
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook the quinoa according to the package directions (we used a brown rice and quinoa mix).  Cut the chicken into small cubes and cook in a fry pan or a grill pan until done. When the quinoa is done, add the spinach, pesto, and parmesan.  Then add the chicken stir it all together.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sriracha Aioli

In the last year or so I've gotten really into brussels sprouts and have been looking for different ways to cook them.  I have roasted them before but have never tried them with a sauce.  This is a super easy recipe and can even be used as an appetizer.  Be careful, though, the sauce is really spicy!! 

Photo from Authentic Suburban Gourmet

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Sriracha Aioli
(From Authentic Suburban Gourmet)1 Lb. Brussels Sprouts, trim ends only and leave whole
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350

In a baking dish add the Brussels sprouts and toss with olive oil until well coated and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, so the Brussels are still firm. Serve with dipping sauce as a main dish or appetizer.

Sriracha Aioli
4 T. Mayonnaise
1 to 2 T. Sriracha (add more or less depending how hot you like it)

Mix the ingredients in a small bowl and let sit in refrigerator until ready to use.

Crusted Honey Mustard Chicken

This is a great chicken recipe that I first tried in the fall.  ...And the best part is that it's a Weight Watchers recipe!  I used Panko bread crumbs instead of the cornflake crumbs, and it was delicious!  It has a great crunch like fried chicken but it healthier since it's baked.  I think this is something that would be great for children, and it has a fancy enough taste for adults.  This is definitely going in my chicken recipe rotation!

Photo from WeightWatchers.com

Ingredients:

	1 spray(s) cooking spray
	2/3 cup(s) lite honey mustard dressing
	1/8 tsp table salt
	1/8 tsp black pepper
	2 tsp dill, freshly chopped
	1 medium uncooked scallion(s), finely sliced
	1 cup(s) cornflake crumbs
	1 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), four 4 oz pieces

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Coat a shallow pan with cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, combine honey mustard dressing, salt, pepper, dill and scallions; remove 1/3 cup and set aside.
• Place cornflake crumbs in a shallow bowl. Dip chicken into dressing mixture and then cornflake crumbs; place in prepared pan.
• Bake until chicken is golden and no longer pink in center, about 15 minutes.
• Drizzle remaining dressing mixture (the 1/3 cup that was set aside) over chicken breasts and serve.
• Yields 1 piece of chicken and about 1 1/3 tablespoons of dressing per serving.

Sliced Baked Potatoes

Kent and I both found this recipe in different places a few months ago.  We've made them several times, and they are so good!  I get tired of baked potatoes, but these have so much flavor and a different texture than traditional baked potatoes.

Picture from foodgawker.com

Rosemary Sliced Baked Potatoes
from Ina Garten
Ingredients:

3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes

1/3 cup olive oil

4 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary (divided) 

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut crosswise into each potato at 1/8-inch intervals, cutting to within 1/4 inch of the bottom. (Kent puts chop sticks on either side of the potato so that he can't cut all the way through.)  Place the potatoes in a large bowl, add the olive oil, salt and pepper and 1 tablespoon of the rosemary and toss well, working the salt mixture in between the slices. Arrange the potatoes on a sheet pan cut side up.

Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes, until they are tender and golden and crisp on top.  Sprinkle with remaining rosemary and serve.  Adding a sprinkling of parmesan can also be great!

Blackberry Crunch

I got this recipe from my family's recipe book.  It was submitted by my aunt, Marilyn, who is a fantastic cook!  I was looking for a dessert to make one night for some friends from church who were coming over for a meeting.  I knew I would be getting home from work a little late and wouldn't have tons of time, but I wanted to serve something homemade.  This was super fast and perfect for a cold winter night!

Blackberry Crunch
Ingredients:
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, undrained (in its own juice)
3 cups blackberries (Marilyn's recipe calls for blueberries, but nearly any berry will do!)
1 package yellow cake mix
1 stick margarine, melted
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:
Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.  Spread undrained pineapple in pan.  Layer berries over pineapple.  Sprinkle dry cake mix over the berries.  Then pour the melted margarine over all.  Sprinkle top with chopped nuts.  Do not stir.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  Serve warm with ice cream.

And... we're back!

I've been posting on my blog for 3 1/2 years now. I had been doing really well the first 3 years posting about once a week or at least a few times a month, but last summer I went back to school and have had far less free time!  I'm not taking a class this semester, so I hope to be back to posting more often!  I've back blogged a few recipes that I've had time to make recently, so please take a look at those.  For some reason, blogger is not letting me upload photos for my recipes right now, but I'll try to come back later and post pictures.  I'm not sure how often I'll be able to blog, but hopefully you'll see a few new recipes every now and then.  Happy cooking!!

Shrimp Diablo

My friend, Sydney, and I are always exchanging recipes over lunch.  She sent me this one recently after trying herself, and I'm dying to get the chance to make it!  I love spicy seafood, so I know this dish is going to be great!

 

Shrimp Diablo

Ingredients:
1 lb. med. lg. shrimp. Frozen but uncooked. Peeled & deveined.

1 t crushed red pepper flakes

6 T good olive oil

1 1/2 T salt

1/4 C cognac or brandy

4 T minced garlic

1/2 t sugar

28 oz can diced, unflavored tomatoes, drained

1 C dry white wine

1/4 C chopped parsley

1 lb. linguini

1/3 C heavy cream

2 oz. capers, drained & rinsed.

Directions:
1. Get a big pot of salted water on stove to boil. Heat a heavy 12 inch skillet on high for about 4 minutes. This is very important - don't go too fast. The pan needs to be really, really hot. While the pan heats, toss the shrimp with half the red pepper flakes, 2 T of the olive oil and 3/4 t salt. Stir to coat shrimp and let them sit.

2. When pan is ready dump in the shrimp and use a wooden spoon to spread them around in a single layer. Let them sit there for 30 seconds - the bottoms will turn a mottled brown. Remove from the heat and stir the shrimp so the other side is down. Add the brandy and wait a second or two. Put the pan back on the heat and wave a match over the pan until the brandy lights. Watch your eyebrows! Shake the skillet until the flames die down. Pour the whole mess into a holding bowl.

3. Let the skillet cool a bit. Return to a low heat. Add 3 T of the garlic and 3 T of olive oil. Cook the garlic, stirring all the time until it is well cooked - about 6 minutes or until straw colored, not brown.

4. Add the rest of the pepper flakes, 3/4 t salt, sugar, tomatoes and wine. Make sure the tomatoes are drained or you'll have a good tasting but watery sauce. Simmer on medium heat for 8 minutes.

5. While the sauce simmers, add the pasta to the boiling water.

6. Add the shrimp and all their juices, the rest of the garlic and the parsley, Simmer until the shrimp are hot again. Add cream and capers.

7. When the pasta is done, drain - saving 1/3 C of pasta water. Put pasta in a big bowl - add the reserved water back and about 1/2 C of the sauce. Toss well.

8. You can now either add the sauce and serve family style or put the pasta in bowls and top with the sauce.