Friday, October 22, 2010

Stuffed Bell Peppers

These bell peppers are so tasty and quite simple to throw together as well. It's one of our go-to meals, and one pepper can easily feed two kids. The leftovers are great as is or rolled up in a flour tortilla with a little salsa and sour cream.



Stuffed Bell Peppers

6 large bell peppers (any color)
1 lb. ground meat (beef, turkey, or whatever you like)
1/2 small onion, diced
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce
garlic salt
oregano
basil
parsley
2-3 C. cooked rice
mozzarella cheese



Cut off tops of bell peppers, straight across. Trim around the stem and dice remaining usable parts from the lid. Discard stem and seeds. Place whole peppers in an oven-safe dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 3-4 minutes. Set aside.

Brown ground meat in a pan. Season with garlic salt, oregano, basil, and parsley about halfway through cooking. Add onions and diced bell peppers. Cook til soft--shouldn't take long. Add tomato sauce and rice. Stir to combine, then heat through.

Fill whole bell peppers with this mixture until full to the brim, then place in a sprayed baking dish. Top generously with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until the cheese is done to your liking. (We like it crispy on the edges and lightly browned on top.)

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Easiest Chicken Cacciatore Ever

Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian. In cuisine, "alla cacciatora" refers to a meal prepared "hunter-style" with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, herbs, often bell pepper, and sometimes wine. Cacciatore is popularly made with braised chicken (pollo alla cacciatora) or rabbit. (Wiki Source)

Chicken Cacciatore is super easy to make with just a few staples that you (hopefully) already have on hand in the pantry and the fridge. This recipe has a bit of a twist and can be made in the oven or the slow cooker, whichever is handiest.



Easiest Chicken Cacciatore Ever
3-4 chicken breasts
1 can tomato soup OR 1 can Italian style diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
splash of milk


Veggies Used, all sliced:
green bell pepper
mushrooms (canned is fine; fresh is best)
1 small onion
tomatoes


NOTE: You can substitute any of these veggies with whatever you have on hand. Broccoli, green beans, squash, or even zucchini would be fantastic in this. Try not to skimp on the onions though--they really make the dish!

Herbs & Spices Used: rosemary, basil, parsley, garlic salt, pepper


Mix canned tomatoes with cream soup thoroughly. Add herbs and spices to taste. Stir together.

Spray baking pan or slow cooker insert with cooking oil. Place chicken in a single layer. Cover with soup/tomato mixture. Add veggies on top.

Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 45 minutes for thawed chicken; 80-90 minutes for frozen chicken.

Alternatively, cook in the slow cooker on high for 4-5 hours or until the chicken is cooked through (registers 165 degrees in the thickest part of the breast).

Serve over rice or pasta noodles.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Saturday, March 20, 2010

How To Slice a Pineapple



Once you get this easy-slice method down, nothing will stop you from enjoying a delicious prickly pineapple.

Music: Kevin MacLeod

Sunday, March 14, 2010

How to Stem & Seed a Bell Pepper



Don't bother with a paring knife. Just get your fist in there and yank off the stem.

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

BBQ Chicken Muffins

This is about as easy a dinner as it gets.



BBQ Chicken Muffins

2-3 chicken breasts
Premade BBQ Sauce
Onions, sliced
1 can refrigerated biscuit dough (8-10 pieces)
Cheddar cheese


Pan cook the chicken thoroughly, then slice into thin strips. Toss with BBQ sauce. Press each biscuit into a cooking-sprayed muffin pan cup, making a hollow for the chicken. Add BBQ chicken, then sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

Even my kids loved this--totally a winner.

Monday, February 22, 2010

How to Cube a Mango