With cold weather rolling in and my seasonal head cold to go with it, I had an itch for soup and came up with this... it only took about 45 minutes total. Hope you enjoy!
Ingredients:
4 C broccoli florets in bite-sized pieces (about 1 head)
4 carrots, roughly chopped
2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts, boiled*, chopped
2 T butter, divided
3 stalks of celery, sliced or diced
1 C onion, chopped
1 T flour
1/4 tsp salt
A dash or two of black pepper, thyme and basil
1 C half-n-half (substitute milk, if desired)
2-2 1/2 C chicken stock, divided
4 oz Velveeta cheese, sliced
*To prepare chicken, place breasts in small pot and cover with water. Add a little salt if you wish. Cover and bring to a hard boil, then remove from heat, leaving covered for 15-20 minutes. Chop into bite-sized pieces. It should come out just done, not overcooked or dry.
1. Steam broccoli and carrots, then drain and set aside.
2. In large pot, melt 1 T butter and saute celery and onion until tender.
3. Meanwhile, reserve 1-2 C broccoli and carrots. The rest goes into a food processor or blender with 1 C chicken stock. Process until smooth.
4. When celery and onion are tender, melt in remaining 1 T butter then stir in flour, salt, pepper, thyme and basil and cook another minute.
5. Stir in half-n-half and bring to a bubble, then add cheese to melt.
6. Stir in processed veggies and remaining 1 C chicken stock (or a little more to desired consistency), reserved veggies and chicken.
7. Bring to a simmer to heat through and serve.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Ravioli with Tomato-Basil Cream
If you are a follower of my recipes and haven't yet planted your own basil, well, it's never too late! :) This recipe is very quick and easy, courtesy of Southern Living. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
20 oz. *refrigerated* four-cheese ravioli (or 13 oz. three-cheese tortellini)
16 oz. jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce
2 T white wine (or chicken broth)
14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, fully drained (or 2 med. fresh tomatoes, chopped)
1/2 C (big handful) chopped fresh basil
1/3 C grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish: fresh basil strips
1. Start water to boil and prepare pasta according to package directions, cooking to al dente.
2. Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into a saucepan large enough to hold everything in the end. Pour wine into sauce jar, shake well and stir into saucepan.
3. Stir in tomatoes and basil and cook over med-low heat until thoroughly heated through.
4. When pasta is done, drain and add to sauce. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Dish up, top with Parmesan cheese and garnish if desired.
Ingredients:
20 oz. *refrigerated* four-cheese ravioli (or 13 oz. three-cheese tortellini)
16 oz. jar sun-dried tomato Alfredo sauce
2 T white wine (or chicken broth)
14 oz. can petite diced tomatoes, fully drained (or 2 med. fresh tomatoes, chopped)
1/2 C (big handful) chopped fresh basil
1/3 C grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish: fresh basil strips
1. Start water to boil and prepare pasta according to package directions, cooking to al dente.
2. Meanwhile, pour Alfredo sauce into a saucepan large enough to hold everything in the end. Pour wine into sauce jar, shake well and stir into saucepan.
3. Stir in tomatoes and basil and cook over med-low heat until thoroughly heated through.
4. When pasta is done, drain and add to sauce. Bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes.
5. Dish up, top with Parmesan cheese and garnish if desired.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Family-Style Calzone
This is another Pampered Chef-inspired recipe... And a think ahead note: if you're not particularly fond of pepperoni and/or black olives, substitute chopped chicken and basil pesto! YUM!!Ingredients:
1 egg, separated
1/2 C chopped pitted ripe olives (small can, already chopped works perfect!)
1 container (about 15 oz) ricotta cheese (part-skim if desired)
1 1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 C grated parmesan cheese
1/4 C snipped fresh parsley
1 box Krusteaz Country White bread mix (including yeast packet)
1 T Italian seasoning
1 C very warm water
4 oz sliced pepperoni
1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Separate egg, dropping white into a medium bowl. Reserve the yolk for later use.
3. Add olives, ricotta cheese, 1/2 C mozzarella, parmesan and parsley to the bowl and mix well. Set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, prepare bread as directed on the box, adding the Italian seasoning with the water.
5. After kneading, divide the dough in half. Roll out one piece to fit the bottom of your baking dish. (I use a stoneware baker. If you use a regular baking dish, you should lightly grease and flour it 1st.)
6. Sprinkle 1/2 C mozzarella to within 1/2" of edge. Layer 1/2 of pepperoni then spread ricotta mixture evenly over pepperoni. Top with remaining pepperoni and mozzarella.
7. Roll out remaining dough and place over filling. Press dough all around to seal the edges.
8. Beat the reserved egg yolk and brush over dough with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with some more parmesan (I like to use shredded here.)
9. Cut slits in top crust. This is easiest to do with kitchen shears.
10. Bake for about 18 minutes, until deep golden brown. Keep a close eye so that it doesn't burn! Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.
Chicken Alfredo Lasagna
I've been bored with the same old things so going through my cookbooks... found a great and different way to do lasagna (courtesy of Pampered Chef, but I of course changed it up a bit)!! Following is the basic recipe but you can pack it full of vegetables - zucchini, squash, etc. for a healthy, hearty meal.
Ingredients:
8-10 No Bake Lasagna noodles I like Barilla
1 jar (about 16 oz) white Alfredo pasta sauce
1/4 C milk
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 C coarsely chopped cooked chicken (see Notes below)
--Leftover roasted chicken could be substituted as well!
14 oz can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
1/2 C chopped red bell pepper
1/4 C finely chopped onion
1 (or 2) garlic cloves, pressed
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
2 C (or as much as you want) fresh baby spinach leaves
Ok, 1st of all I found that it's very quick and much easier to prep everything 1st, using a food chopper to get all the chopping done rather than the old fashioned way... if you don't have one, they're a great investment!
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a bowl, whisk together Alfredo sauce, milk and oregano. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine chicken, artichokes, bell pepper, onions and garlic. Add cheeses and mix together well.
4. Assemble lasagna:
--Apread 2/3 C sauce mixture over bottom of a deep dish baker.
--Top with 1/2 of the noodles, overlapping where necessary.
--Layer 1/2 of the spinach, then 1/2 of the chicken mixture. (Here is where you can add whatever chopped veggies you prefer.)
--Repeat layers, starting w/ 1/2 of the remaining sauce.
--Top w/ remaining sauce.
5. Cover dish with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.
6. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting to allow it to "set up".
This yields 6-8 big servings!
CHICKEN NOTE: To easily prepare chicken, place boneless, skinless breasts in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, cover and remove from heat. By the time you have your veggies chopped, the chicken should have finished cooking. You can also use the food chopper for the chicken!!
Ingredients:
8-10 No Bake Lasagna noodles I like Barilla
1 jar (about 16 oz) white Alfredo pasta sauce
1/4 C milk
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
3 C coarsely chopped cooked chicken (see Notes below)
--Leftover roasted chicken could be substituted as well!
14 oz can artichoke hearts in water, drained and chopped
1/2 C chopped red bell pepper
1/4 C finely chopped onion
1 (or 2) garlic cloves, pressed
12 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz crumbled feta cheese
2 C (or as much as you want) fresh baby spinach leaves
Ok, 1st of all I found that it's very quick and much easier to prep everything 1st, using a food chopper to get all the chopping done rather than the old fashioned way... if you don't have one, they're a great investment!
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. In a bowl, whisk together Alfredo sauce, milk and oregano. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine chicken, artichokes, bell pepper, onions and garlic. Add cheeses and mix together well.
4. Assemble lasagna:
--Apread 2/3 C sauce mixture over bottom of a deep dish baker.
--Top with 1/2 of the noodles, overlapping where necessary.
--Layer 1/2 of the spinach, then 1/2 of the chicken mixture. (Here is where you can add whatever chopped veggies you prefer.)
--Repeat layers, starting w/ 1/2 of the remaining sauce.
--Top w/ remaining sauce.
5. Cover dish with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.
6. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting to allow it to "set up".
This yields 6-8 big servings!
CHICKEN NOTE: To easily prepare chicken, place boneless, skinless breasts in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, cover and remove from heat. By the time you have your veggies chopped, the chicken should have finished cooking. You can also use the food chopper for the chicken!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
Chunky Chicken Stroganoff
I love this one! Quick, easy and tasty!
Ingredients:
12 oz wide egg noodles
About 1/2 C flour, divided
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
About 1 1/2# boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into big bite-sized pieces
5 T butter, divided
8-10 mushrooms, roughly chopped (about 1 C)
1 C chopped onion
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 C chicken stock
1 C sour cream
1 tsp ketchup
1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, mix about 1/3 C flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder in large bowl and toss chicken pieces to coat.
3. Heat 3 T butter in large skillet over medium/med-high heat. Brown chicken, 6-8 minutes.
4. Stir in onion and mushrooms and cook another 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl, reserving any pan drippings.
5. Add remaining 2 T flour and 2 T butter, mixing together. Stir in dry mustard and mix well. Gradually add stock, bringing to a bubble and stirring frequently until sauce begins to thicken.
6. Stir in sour cream & ketchup. Return chicken to skillet, heat through and serve over hot noodles.
Ingredients:
12 oz wide egg noodles
About 1/2 C flour, divided
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder
About 1 1/2# boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into big bite-sized pieces
5 T butter, divided
8-10 mushrooms, roughly chopped (about 1 C)
1 C chopped onion
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 C chicken stock
1 C sour cream
1 tsp ketchup
1. Cook noodles according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, mix about 1/3 C flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder in large bowl and toss chicken pieces to coat.
3. Heat 3 T butter in large skillet over medium/med-high heat. Brown chicken, 6-8 minutes.
4. Stir in onion and mushrooms and cook another 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove with a slotted spoon to a bowl, reserving any pan drippings.
5. Add remaining 2 T flour and 2 T butter, mixing together. Stir in dry mustard and mix well. Gradually add stock, bringing to a bubble and stirring frequently until sauce begins to thicken.
6. Stir in sour cream & ketchup. Return chicken to skillet, heat through and serve over hot noodles.
Sloppy Turkey Joes
These are delicious... and a great, leaner alternative to ground beef. Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray, with a few tweaks of course. :) This is also a great recipe for the kids to help with!
Ingredients:
2 T EVOO
1# lean ground turkey
1/2 red onion, chopped (about 1 C)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 C)
1 T grill seasoning, I use Tone's Canadian Steak Seasoning
2 T brown sugar
1-2 T Worcestershire sauce
8 oz tomato sauce
Your favorite sandwich rolls or buns, toasted
1. Heat EVOO over medium high heat and brown the turkey, breaking up into bits as it cooks.
2. Add veggies and stir together.
3. In a small bowl, mix grill seasoning, brown sugar, W-sauce and tomato sauce. Pour over meat and stir together.
4. Bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. Taste to adjust seasoning if needed then serve!
Ingredients:
2 T EVOO
1# lean ground turkey
1/2 red onion, chopped (about 1 C)
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped (about 1 C)
1 T grill seasoning, I use Tone's Canadian Steak Seasoning
2 T brown sugar
1-2 T Worcestershire sauce
8 oz tomato sauce
Your favorite sandwich rolls or buns, toasted
1. Heat EVOO over medium high heat and brown the turkey, breaking up into bits as it cooks.
2. Add veggies and stir together.
3. In a small bowl, mix grill seasoning, brown sugar, W-sauce and tomato sauce. Pour over meat and stir together.
4. Bring to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. Taste to adjust seasoning if needed then serve!
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Gobble-icious Turkey Burgers
If you're a turkey burger fan, you'd actually be surprised at how much fat is in those restaurant "healthy" burgers! This recipe IS relatively low in fat, about 10g per patty... and super good! I like to serve it with acorn squash for an a healthy alternative to burger and fries. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey (choose the lowest fat content when buying)
2 tsp paprika
1 T McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning
About 1/4 C chopped parsley
About 1 C yellow onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 1 T)
EVOO
Your favorite hamburger buns or bread, toasted
Your favorite burger toppings
1. In a mixing bowl, combine meat, paprika, steak seasoning, parsley, onion and garlic.
2. Heat about 2T EVOO in a non-stick skillet over med-high heat and make a small, quarter-sized patty. Cook it up and taste to check the seasonings. Adjust seasoning and/or heat if needed.
3. Divide meat into 5 large, thin patties. Cook about 5 minutes on each side.
4. Serve on toasted bread.
Ingredients:
1 lb ground turkey (choose the lowest fat content when buying)
2 tsp paprika
1 T McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning
About 1/4 C chopped parsley
About 1 C yellow onion, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic, finely chopped (about 1 T)
EVOO
Your favorite hamburger buns or bread, toasted
Your favorite burger toppings
1. In a mixing bowl, combine meat, paprika, steak seasoning, parsley, onion and garlic.
2. Heat about 2T EVOO in a non-stick skillet over med-high heat and make a small, quarter-sized patty. Cook it up and taste to check the seasonings. Adjust seasoning and/or heat if needed.
3. Divide meat into 5 large, thin patties. Cook about 5 minutes on each side.
4. Serve on toasted bread.
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