Weeknight dinner: Parmesan Fish

Parmesan Tilapia

1 lb tilapia filets

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1/4 cup  Parmesan cheese

Place tilapia filets in baking dishes. I needed two. Spread mayo on filets as seen below.

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese next. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until fish is flaky. 

Warm Bacon Dip

I loved this recipe so much I did not change anything!! http://kitchenmeetsgirl.com/gooey-cheesy-warm-bacon-dip/  Well actually, I did not use light sour cream!

 

 

Warm Bacon Dip

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ½ cup sliced green onion

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Combine softened cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon and green onion. Spoon mixture into a 1-quart baking dish and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and hot.
3. Serve with bread slices, crackers, or veggies.

Pancake Bites

School will be starting back soon and we are always looking for ideas for quick breakfasts. This recipe is very easy. The kids can make it and it is as healthy as you want it to be! 

Pancake Bites

1 batch of pancake batter (Can be from a mix or homemade) 

1/2 pound of filler.         

We used sausage in the picture and it was great. Another time we used blueberries. They were great too. 

6 tsps of syrup 

Fill the cups of a cupcake pan half full of pancake mix. Add a 1/2 tsp of syrup in each cup. Then Evenly distribute the filler between the 12 cups.  

Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool and eat. 

To use later: Store in a sealed bag so they last longer. Heat in microwave for 15 secs before you enjoy!  

6 Post Partum/ Grad School Freezer Meals

I go back to grad school soon and am trying to fill my freezer with meals. I buy inexpensive baking dishes at garage sales. I can use them in the freezer or to give to friends when they need dinner. Here is the list of things I am preparing.

Soups

Chicken Corn Chowder

Simple Chili

Cabbage Soup

Casseroles

Tomato basil Chicken

Prepare the chicken but don't bake. Freeze in bag or baking dish.

Ground Beef Casserole

Grammy's Lasagna

Creamy Tomato Pesto Pasta

Creamy Tomato Pesto Pasta

Funny story I signed up to bring something for teacher appreciation week and then forgot.  I got a reminder this week and panicked. I found the recipe below and was able to adapt it to a cold dish. It only took 15 trips around the grocery store and one call to mom.

This recipe was adapted to a cold dish from this recipe  http://www.lifewithmylittles.com/2014/09/cheesy-pesto-and-tomato-pasta.html/#_a5y_p=2593799

12 oz. bowtie pasta

 

1 bunch asparagus, chopped in to bite size pieces

1 tbsp. pesto

1 Tbsp. butter

1 c. whipping cream

⅓ c. shredded mozzarella

1 tomato, diced

1/3 c parmesan cheese

 

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and set aside

 

In the same pan you cooked the pasta, melt butter over medium heat. sauté the asparagus for about 5 minutes. Add in the whipping cream and let it get thick, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the pesto and let the sauce thicken more, about 7 more minutes.

Add ⅓ c. mozzarella cheese and stir until melted. Add tomatoes.

 

Toss in the pasta. Top with parmesan cheese

 

Serve! (I served this cold to teachers the next day.)

Weeknight dinner: Fish Tacos

I love fish tacos at restaurants and had to learn an easy way to make them at home. I simplified all three components.

 

 

Simple Fish Tacos

 

 

 

1 lb tilapia

2 lime juiced and zested

2 tbsps. honey

sprinkle of cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp sour cream

1/8 taco seasoning

2 cups purple cabbage, shredded

soft or hard tacos

diced tomato (optional)

1. Begin by mixing the marinade for the fish, use zest and juice from one lime, honey and cayenne pepper. Place in a bag with tilapia for 30 minutes.

2. Shred cabbage and mix with juice from the other lime. Set aside.
 

3. Mix sour cream with taco seasoning to make creamy dressing.

 

4. Sauté fish until it flakes with a fork.
 

5. Assemble taco on soft taco, layering fish, dressed cabbage, tomatoes, and creamy dressing.

How to make a white sauce

 

 

How to make a white sauce!

 

What you need:

 

a good skillet

a whisk

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

4 cups milk

4 oz cream cheese, cut in to chunks

 

 

1. Start by melting butter in the skillet.

 

 

2. When all the butter is melted (like below), add the flour

 

 

3. Mix the flour with the melted butter. Let it cook until a golden brown. A little darker than the picture below.

 

 

4. Add the milk to the skillet. Whisk like mad until all the lumps are worked out.

 

5. Add the cream cheese, Whisk until smooth. Add milk to thin sauce if needed. Sere immediately.

Weeknight dinner: Tomato Pesto Chicken

 

 

This is a quick easy dinner, that my kids woof down. The pesto give the chicken flavor and the tomato keeps it moist. Who would have thought my kids would like pesto?

It is adapted from http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/09/skinny-chicken-pesto-bake.html.

 

 

 

 

Tomato Pesto Chicken

 

1 and 1/2 pounds of chicken tenders

3 tbsp. traditional basil pesto, I used Classico brand

one large tomato, sliced

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken tenders in a baking dish. Spread pesto over chicken. Place tomato sliced on top of chicken and pesto. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Weeknight dinner: Chicken Mushroom Quesadillas

My kids love Quesadillas for dinner, but there are not great options for Mexican food her in Pennsylvania. Making them at home becomes essential.

Chicken Mushroom Quesadillas

 

4 tortillas

1 cup cooked chicken

1 cup cheese, mozzarella

1/4 cup onions

1/4 cup mushrooms

 

First I sautéed the mushrooms and onions. Then remove from skillet.

 

Then I put a tortilla in the skillet. Fill one side with 1/4 of the toppings. Start with chicken, the add veggies and top with cheese.

 

When the cheese has begun to melt use your biggest spatula and flip. Make it one quick easy motion. Some cheese will end up on the skillet and may burn, but that is ok. Allow the cheese to melt completely, then remove from the skillet. I cut them in 4 pieces and serve. Make 4 servings.

3 Make Ahead Breakfasts for Kids of All Ages

We are busy most every week, but I like to make breakfasts ahead of time to keep my family eating healthy. On Mondays, we usually have muffins, Muffin Mondays. Here is a great recipe for Orange Poppy Seed Muffins. I use some whole wheat flour, but you would never know. My husband was telling me that he does not eat whole wheat, while eating one of these muffins.  My boys really like breakfast wraps, so they are included. The key are the fiber one tortillas, They only have 80 calories and are loaded with fiber. Finally, Cinnamon French Toast Sticks finish off our week. Using the cinnamon and vanilla makes them sweet without syrup. Cut them into strips and they are ready to eat in the car.

French Toast Sticks

4 eggs
1/8 cup milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp vanilla
8 slices bread

Use a fork to combine eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a baking dish. Dip bread in egg mixture coating well. Place in warm greased skillet. Cook on both sides for 3-4 minutes.


Enjoy with syrup immediately or cut into strips to be reheated and eaten on the run.

Orange Poppy Seed Muffins

1 3/4 cup flour (I used 1 cup multipurpose and 3/4 cup white wheat)
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 salt
1 beaten egg
1/4 cup veggie oil
1 orange, juiced and zested
1 tbsp. poppy seeds


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in medium size bowl. Make well in dry mixture. In another bowl, combine egg, milk, orange zest, orange juice, poppy seeds, and veggie oil. Add liquid mixture to dry mixture. Stir until moist. Place mixture in 12 greased muffin wells. Bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

Egg and Sausage Wraps

4 eggs
2 pieces of cooked turkey sausage (I buy them already cooked and in the freezer section)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Fiber One tortillas




Scramble the eggs with a fork. Cook eggs in a skillet. When eggs are starting to get firm add sausage cut into pieces. Cook until eggs are firm. Place eggs in the center of tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and wrap.

Weeknight Dinner: Simple Chili

Weeknight Dinner: Simple Chili

2 lbs ground beef or turkey
3 cans petite diced tomatoes
1 14 oz can tomato sauce
2 cans beans, drained, I used black beans and white beans
1 onion, diced
3 tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (store bought is ok too)

 

Sauté onion in a Dutch oven or large pot.  When onions are translucent add the meat. Break it up as it cooks. When you see only a little pink left, add tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans and seasoning. Let simmer on medium/low heat for 45 minutes.

Weeknight Dinner: Simple Salmon

 

Simple Salmon Weeknight Dinner

1lb salmon

2 tbsp. honey

1 tbsp. dill

juice from 1/2 lemon

Place salmon in a baking dish skin side down. Top with honey, dill and lemon.

Bake at 350 until fish flakes, about 30-45 minutes.

Mexican Caprese Salad

The traditional caprese salad consists of mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. But, I could not resist changing the basil to cilantro. I hope you enjoy!!!

Mexican Caprese Salad

1 ball of fresh mozzarella, cubed

1-2 large tomatoes, cubed (I had extra heirloom tomatoes from the garden and I added them.)

1 Avocado, cubed

2 tbsps. chopped cilantro

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

2 tbsp olive oil (for a lite choice, lemon juice)

salt and pepper to taste

Combine in a bowl and enjoy.

For a tutorial on how to cut avocado, see his blog.

Homemade Seasoning Mixes

 

One way that I same money and time is making my own seasoning blends instead of buying them premade. Also, you are not eating silica. We use the taco seasoning all the time. I can season the meat, the rice and even the sour cream with taco seasoning. I mix the onion and ranch mixes with low fat sour cream for a healthy dip. Any mix can be used to season meat before it hits the grill. Remember to shake before each use because the contents will settle.

Taco Seasoning:

1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt

Put ingredients into a jar and shake. I use this to season taco meat, add it to soups, and add it to rice.

Dry Onion Soup Mix:

2/3 cup dried, minced onion

3 teaspoons parsley flakes

2 teaspoons onion powder

2 teaspoons turmeric

1 teaspoon celery salt

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

Mix all ingredients in a jar. This is great to season meat for the grill. But, also makes a great dip.

Ranch:

5 tablespoons dried minced onions

7 teaspoons parsley flakes

4 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Mix together and store in an air tight container.

For low fat dressing: Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 1 cup Sour Cream and 1 cup buttermilk or regular milk. Add squirt or two to add a zing that replaces the mayo.

For dip:  Mix 2 tablespoons dry mix with 2 cups sour cream and add a squirt of lemon juice.

Originally posted http://selfreliancebyjamie.blogspot.com/2011/08/tis-seasonings.html

$5 Dinner Cabbage Soup

When you are on a budget, a delicious dinner for $5, really hits the spot. We tried this recipe for the first time over the summer when the boys were visiting grandparents. Now we crave it all the time. We just told our picky eater that the cabbage was lettuce.

Cabbage Soup

1 lb ground beef  $2.50

1 Cabbage, chopped  $0.69

2 cans diced tomatoes with basil and oregano $0.69 each

1 tsp Beef bouillon $3.69 for 38 servings equals $0.10 per tsp

6 cups of water

salt and pepper to taste
any other veggies laying around
 

Total cost $4.67

optional ingredients

1 onion, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

Brown ground beef and onions. Drain meat. Return meat to pot and add other ingredients. Leave on medium heat for 45 minutes. Serves a family of four with left overs. 
 

Ground Beef Casserole

I was first driven to this recipe because the ingredients are all staples at my house.  This is a great dish to keep the ingredients in the freezer and pantry. But, it turned out to be a great recipe for us. It originally called for salsa, but all the salsa was gone. I used seasoned tomatoes and it was a hit.

Adapted from http://mommyofamonster.com/2014/01/dinner-idea-ground-beef-casserole.html#_a5y_p=1208993

Ground Beef Casserole

• 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey                                                 
• 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained                                               
• 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained                                         
• 1 can of tomatoes with seasoning                                                      
• 1 cup cheese, shredded                                                                           

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 375.
2. Cook the beef or turkey in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it's fully cooked through (about 10 minutes.) Drain any remaining fat.
3. In a 8x8 baking dish, mix the meat, beans, and tomatoes together.
4. Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes. Remove from oven and remove foil. Stir, and then top with the cheese. Bake uncovered for another 5 minutes to melt the cheese.

$3 Party Tray

I was home with one of my little men and he was sick. He is not a big eater, so I went to the grocery store to find something he would eat. Our grocery store sells the ends of deli meat at a discounted price. I got the ends of sweet bologna for $1. If your grocery store does not sell like this, just ask for two thick slices of meat (1 in or 3/4 in slices). I also had block cheese I bought on sale for $2, it was muenster. You can use any cheese. Two varieties of cheese makes it a $5 tray. The crackers are left over, but they are not required.

$3 Party Tray

2 ends of deli meat, cubed $1

1 block cheese, cubed $2

Total Price $3


Assemble on a tray.


You might also like these party trays.

3 Christmas Tree Party Trays

Veggie Tray

On this tray, broccoli makes the body of the tree.  We were in a Community Supported Agriculture program and that is the lighter color green veggie. It is a cross between cauliflower and broccoli. It was really the hit of the party.  There is also cauliflower and grape tomatoes.

Fruit Tray

I love a fruit tray at  holiday party.  We eat so much junk at the holidays, but fruit makes it a little better. Make sure the berries are purchased just before your party so it remains fresh. I used the apple slices to keep all the fruit from rolling away, then filled in with grapes and berries. Of course, it is topped with star fruit.

Cream Cheese Tree

This tray is probably my husbands favorite. Take a block of cream cheese cut in to two diagonal squares and arrange in tree shape. Pour red pepper jelly on top. I like to serve this one with wheat thins.

If you are a lover of party trays like I am, try this one too.  

Grammi's Lasanga

My moms lasagna is the best and I certainly wanted to include her recipes in this blog. Pinterest is alive with lasagna roll ups, but I think they are to much work. Traditional lasagna is so much easier. I usually eat one and freeze one. I buy the 8x8 square pans at garage sales.  They freeze well, fit in the freezer well, and take meals to others.

Grammi's Lasagna

2 lbs ground beef

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

1 package of ricotta cheese (mom used cottage cheese)

1 package cream cheese

4 green onions, chopped

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1 cup mozzarella cheese

1/2 box lasagna noodles

Brown the ground beef, drain and allow to cool. Cook noodles according to package directions. While the meat and noodles are cooking, mix ricotta, cream cheese, green onions, and garlic powder. Mix meat with spaghetti sauce. Layer starting with meat sauce, then noodles, then cheese mixture. I only use one layer, but you can do one or two. For the top, after the last noodle layer top with more meat mixture. Make sure all of the noodles are covered or the will become dry in the oven.  Top lasagna with mozzarella. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

If your family is anything like mine, include a couple loaves of Italian Bread and ENJOY! 

Chicken Corn Chowder

 

 

Chicken Corn Chowder

1 onion, chopped
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 butternut squash, chopped
6 cups of chicken broth
2 cups of milk
2 bags of frozen corn
1 rotisserie chicken, deboned and cut into pieces




Fry bacon in a Dutch oven. Remove bacon and let drain on paper towels. Sauté onion in bacon fat until soft. Add squash, broth, milk, corn and chicken. Cook on medium heat until squash is soft, about 45 minutes. Add chopped bacon back to the pot and eat!!!