Recipe for two

                        Ham and Spinach Two-Cheese pasta

Ingredients

2/3 cup penne pasta

2 tsp. olive oil

1/2 cup shopped onions

1 tbl. flour

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp pepper

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup shredded Italian-blend cheese

2 tbl. shredded Parmesan cheese

1 5 0z. pkg. baby spinach

2 ounces cubed cookded ham

Preheat oven to 400 . In a medium saucepan cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside.

In a med. size pan heat oil over med. heat. Add onions, cook about 5 min or until tender. Stir in flour, dry mustard and pepper and cook and stir for 1 min. Gradually stir in the evaporated milk and cook till thickened. Stir in the shredded  cheese and 1 tbs. of the Parmesan cheese until melted. Gently stir in the pasta, spinach and ham.

Divide the mixture between two ungreased 10 oz. ramekins. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan cheese and bake uncovered about 10 min. or until tops are browned.

Served with chilled pears 

Easy and delicious

                                       Tenderloin steak and creamy rice pilaf

2 beef tenderloin steaks

Garlic powder

3 tbl. Kraft Italian dressing or sun dried tomato vinaigrette dressing

3/4 cup (one) chopped zucchini

1 small carrot, shredded

1 cup instant white rice, uncooked

3/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup milk

2 tbsp. grey poupon Dijon mustard

1 tbs butter

Pound steak so they are even in thickness and sprinkle with garlic powder

Cook steaks in the 3 tbs. dressing in skillet on medium high heat 10 to 13 min. or until medium  doneness, turning after 5 min.

Meanwhile, cook vegetable in butter in large saucepan until tender. Stir in remaining ingredients., Bring to a boil; cover. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 min. 

Salad dressing for two

Made this salad the other night and what made it special was the homemade dressing

Two Minute Creamy Salad Dressing
Serves two
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. mayonnaise
pinch salt
pinch granulated sugar
ground pepper
1 tbl. white wine vinegar
Whisk the everything but the vinegar together until combined. Then add the vinegar and with until smooth. Can be stored in airtight container in refrigerator for up to five days.

Fixed this the other night and thought I would share it.

White chili for two
You can either use chicken or Pork, I used a pork chop Note: you can also use one large canned chicken).

1/2 cup chopped onion (two thick slices cut in quarters)
5 or 6 oz. of shredded or thinly sliced pork chop
1 cup chicken broth (reserve  about a 1/4 of it to thicken with  cornstarch)
1 (15 oz.) can of navy beans
1/2 to 1 can of green chilies (drained)
Salt and pepper
Garlic powder
Sprinkle of cumin
Season the chops with everything but the cumin and cook in small amount of olive oil until cooked. Push the side and add the onions and cook till they are tender. Add beans with liquid and spices and then add the chicken broth. Add cornstarch to the remaining broth and thicken to your liking. Serve with shredded cheese on top and tortilla's. 

Tidbits

If you happen to like biscuits and gravy here is a different rendition that is easy and good...

 Take a hard boiled egg (they will stay good forever in the refrigerator if you don't peel them) slice on top of a piece of toast and pour a white sauce (2tb. butter, 2 tbl. flour and 1 cup milk) over top. It is yummy:)

Quick, cheap and good

Hubby I normally only eat home once a week but we were both sick last night with colds and didn't want to venture out so I threw together this for us for dinner...

Pkg. of macaroni and cheese and a can of tuna and frozen peas and thawed blueberries with a little sweetener and ate on paper plates so no dishes:)

Soup

I have made this recipe a few times and last time I made it I decided to buy two of all the ingredients so I would have them on hand. I was so happy to have them handy Christmas day when we decided we didn't want to go out and all I had to do was throw it together and within 30 min. we had soup and tortillas....yum.

It is good with tortilla chips, tortilla's or crackers.
You can find the recipe here

Microwave poached eggs

I saw this recipe and decided to try it and to my great surprise it works!!!
Fill a large mug with water and crack an egg into it. There needs to be 1 to 2 inches of water above it. With a sharp knife poke a small hole in the yolk to keep it from exploding.
Cover it with  small plate and microwave for one minute. I had a glass mug that I used so could watch it cook and when it was done it floated to the top. I put it on top of a piece of toast and then smashed it to cover the toast and ate it like a open face sandwich...yummy!!! Should have taken a picture:(

A change of plans and a surprise

I waited too long to decide what we would do for Thanksgiving and we ended up just staying home and eating left over ham and bean soup from the freezer but since I only had to heat it up I decided to fix something new to have with it....

Cheddar Corn Fritters

2 cups corn
3 tbl. diced red or green bell pepper
2 eggs lightly beaten
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. chili powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tbl. melted butter
vegetable oil for frying

Mix corn, bell pepper, eggs and water and cheese in a bowl.
Mix flour, sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper in another bowl and mix well.
Add dry mix to the first bowl and mix until evenly moisten then stir in the melted butter.
Pour oil in frying pan to 1/4 inch and heat to where fritters will fry quickly. Using a serving spoon drop batter into the hot oil. Fry to golden brown and then turn over to fry other side. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with salt.
(I cut this recipe in half as it was only hubby and I and we had plenty)

Tuesday night dinner

I served this very dinner before...

And the recipe for the Cod can be found under "Cod" on my site but what was different is the fresh spinach. I have always eaten spinach from a can and started to wonder what is was like to cook it fresh. I settled on a simple recipe:
Garlic Butter Spinach
2 tbsl butter
1 clove garlic minced
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 pkg. spinach.
Combine the first four ingredients in a 2 quart micro safe dish and melt butter. Add Spinach and cook on high 2 min. or until spinach melts. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Anyone else have a recipe for spinach? I loved it. 

Recipe

7 Can Chicken Taco Soup

1 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 can petite diced tomatoes, not drained
1 can sweet corn, drained
1 can (12.5oz) chicken breast drained & flaked
1 can (10 oz.) green enchilada sauce
1 can (14 oz.) chicken broth
1 packet taco seasoning
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Combine all ingredients into a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 - 30 min.  Stirring occasionally.
Serve with shredded cheese on top and either crackers or tortilla chips

It's a keeper...

Tuesday night dinner

I have been pretty quiet on my dinners, mostly because for one reason or another I haven't cooked on my Tuesday but this week I did. I don't have a recipe to share but a great tidbit. I fixed baked pork chops with stuffing and the thing that made it different is that the dressing was made with applesauce as well as butter and water but also with raisins and I must say it was very good but what was great was my little side idea. I bought a package of those pre-made jello's and this...

Mixed them together and it was ever so tasty!

Tues night dinner

Cheesy Chicken, Rice and Vegetable Casserole

• Prep 15 min
• Total 60 min
• Servings 4

                               

Ingredients

                                       

1 can  cream of chicken condensed soup

1 1/3 cups water                          

 3/4 cup white rice                                                                                                             

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon pepper                                                                                              

 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables                                                                                            

 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

  1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese                 

     Steps

• 1

  Heat oven to 375° F. Stir soup, water, rice, onion powder, black pepper and vegetables in a shallow baking dish (2 quart).
• 2

  Place chicken breasts on top of rice mixture. Season as desired. Cover the baking dish and place in oven.
• 3

  Bake 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Top with the cheese. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving.

                                                                                      

             

                       This was real good but the big hit for the evening was the side dish...


Wilted Coleslaw                                                                      

                                                                                                         

2 cups shredded cabbage
2 green onion, sliced
1/4 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp salt
4 bacon strips
2 tbl. sugar
3 tbl. vinegar
dash of paprika

In small bowl, combine the cabbage, onion, celery seed and salt; set aside. In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain, reserving 1 tbl dripping. Crumble bacon over cabbabe mixture. To the dripping, add sugar, vinegar and paprika; heat until the sugar is dissolved. Pour over the cabbage mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Yield: 2 servings.

What's new

Here is a new recipe that I love!




Mom's meat loaf for 2
1 egg
1/4 cup 2% milk
1/3 cup oatmeal
3 tbl. chopped onion (more if you like onions)
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp sage
dash pepper
1/2 # ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbl. brown sugar
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
In large bowl combine all the above ingredients with the exception of the last three and mix well. Put in two miniature loaf pans. Mix the last three ingredients and spoon over loaves. Bake at 350 for 40 - 45 min.
We only ate one of the loaves so had the other for left over sandwiches...ummmm good.

Served with scalloped potatoes and parmesans asparagus.


On my needles..

This pretty baby blanket. I don't post much about knitting or crocheting but am making hats and blankets for the hospital where I volunteer.

Tues. night dinner

Cheese-Topped Cod
2 cod filets
1 tbl. butter melted
1/4 cup mayonnaise (not fat free)
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Place fish in a greased backing dish. Drizzle with butter. Combine the mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese; spread over fish. Bake, uncovered at 425 for 16-20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.


Served with steamed cauliflower with shredded cheese on top and sliced tomatoes.

Recipe

Threw this together this morning for breakfast and it was really good so thought I would share...

I took one flour tortilla out of the freezer (I keep them in a freezer bag and separate them with foil) and heated it in the micro till barely warm.
I fried a egg and broke the yoke so there would be no runny. I put shredded cheese on the tortilla added one slice of ham from the deli and put the egg cut in slices on top of the ham and added more cheese. Folded it over and cooked it in the skillet until lightly browned on both sides. Yum...

Recipe

This is a nifty little recipe for a quick and easy lunch or dinner and can keep the ingredients on hand.
1 frozen package of macaroni and cheese (I used Michelinas)
1 can tuna
Handful of frozen peas
Cook the mac and cheese in the microwave but about half way through stir in drained tuna and peas and continue to heat till all is hot. I added more shredded cheese:)

This made enough for me to have two lunches. Could also do the same but use chicken and frozen corn.

Tues. night dinner

Curly Noodle Dinner
1 pound hamburger
1- 14 1/2 ounce can stewed tomatoes
1- 8 ounce can whole kernel corn
1- 3oz pkg. oriental noodles with pork flavor


Brown beef in skillet, drain off fat. Stir in undrained tomatoes and undrained corn and the seasoning packet from the noodles.
Break up the noodles  and stir into beef mixture. Bring to boiling then reduce heat and cover and simmer bout  10 min. or until the noodles are tender.


Served with summer slaw from the deli and garlic bread.

Tues. night dinner

I am going to do this one right away.
I have been real curious about Bok Choy

It is a Japanese cabbage so when I saw the recipe for Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy I decided to have a go at it but I substituted pork for the chicken.
Stir-Fried Chicken and Bok Choy
Serving 4
INGREDIENTS
For the Sauce:
2 tbl. honey
1/8 dried ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 tbl. lite soy sauce
T tbl rice wine vinegar


For the stir-fry"
2 tsp sesame oil
1 # chicken cut into 1 inch pieces
1 head of Bok choy washed and diced
2 large carrots peeled and made into matchsticks
5-6 green onions diced


INTSTRUCTIONS
Stir together all the ingredients for the sauce and set aside
Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over med. high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes. Add the bok choy, carrots and green onions and cook till getting tender. Add sauce and heat through.

Served with fried rice from the deli and mandarin oranges. It is a keeper.

Tues. night dinner catch up

I don't know how I get so far behind and sometimes can't remember what I cooked haha...but here are a few anyhow.

Ham Fried Rice
2 beaten eggs
2 tbl. cooking oil
1 cup chopped fully cooked ham =6 oz.
1 2oz. can chopped mushrooms drained
3tb sliced green onion
1 tbl. soy sauce
1/4 tsp ginger
1 clove garlic, minced
1/12 cups cold cooked rice
In 10 inch skillet cook eggs in t tbs. of the oil without stirring, till set. Invert skillet over a plate to remove eggs and cut eggs into short narrow strips.
In same skillet cook chopped ham, mushrooms, green onion, soy sauce, garlic and ginger in the remaining oil over high heat for 3 to 4 min. Stir in cold cooked rice and eggs strips; heat through.
Served with steam vegetables and orange slices.


Last Tues. night I grilled marinated pork chops and asparagus

I didn't like the marinade and won't fix it that way again but did love the grilled asparagus.
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ground black pepper
Wash and snap off hard parts of asparagus and dry with a towel
Combine all the above in zip lock bag and mix well, then add the asparagus and coat well. Then simply grill until done.


Need to do a little explanation here. I rarely grill and my hubby never does but my stove top has a built in grill...

It has a air sucker and all that but of course you then have to take it apart and clean it but recently I ordered one of those grill matts and they work! I would show you a picture but it is in the dish washer:)
Ended the dinner out with a baked pot.