Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Pineapple Chicken - A Favorite!

This is quickly becoming one of my all time favorites!  On a vacation to New Orleans, some friends made this meal for us.  Before trying it, I thought they were crazy.  Little did I know, this meal would soon make it into our regular rotation!


Ingredients:
*Hamburger Buns
*Chicken (either cut up into small pieces or a breast for each bun)
          (I like small pieces as I find them easier to eat.  I also find that the chicken goes further when cut              up.)
*Pineapple rings
*Chipotle Mayo (if desired)
*Cajun Seasoning (if desired)


1) Cook the chicken

2) Prepare the buns
      - we enjoy broiling the buns with a little garlic seasonings and cajun seasoning

3) Spread chipotle mayo on bun.  Add chicken to sandwich.  Place pineapple ring on top of chicken and top with bun.

4) Prepare to be amazed!



Breakfast Burritos

Prepare breakfast ingredients as desired. 

I use any combination of the following ingredients: 
- scrambled eggs
- sausage or turkey bacon
- country gravy
- breakfast potatoes or hash brown
-salsa

Place ingredients in tortilla shell and wrap.  I then cover with plastic wrap and tin foil individually and place in freezer.  When eating, one burrito usually takes 1-2 minutes in microwave when taken directly from freezer. 

Ground Beef Curly Noodle

1 lb ground beef
2 (3 oz) packages of Oriental flavored ramen noodles
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes (I use Romel)
1 can of corn

1) In skillet add hamburger, corn, and tomatoes (including juices.)
2) Add noodles and the spice packet.
3) allow to cook until noodles are tender.

*Freeze in bag and served when desired.

+I found that it's easier to cook the noodles in the microwave or stovetop first.  The juices didn't provide enough liquid for the noodles.  

Hamburger Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

- The original recipe calls for several ingredients.  The starred ingredients are the only ones I use.

1 tsp olive oil
*1 lb hamburger
1/2 medium onion, chopped
*2 cups (1 can) chicken or beef broth
*1 cup water
*1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup tomato paste (instead I add a little ketchup)
*2 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper
*2 1/2 cup macaroni (before cooking)
*3 TBS butter
*3 TBS flour
*1 cup milk
*2 cup shredded cheese


1) Heat olive oil and add browned hamburger. Add onion.
2)  Add broth, water, ketchup, omato paste, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
3) Add macorni and bring to a boil.  (The broth and water will allow macaroni to cook.  If needed add more water.)  After boiling, reduce heat until macaroni is completely cooked.

4) Meanwhile, melt butter in another pan and add flour.  Whisk until well blended.  Add milk and again whisk until smooth.  Cook until sauce begins to thicken.  This usually takes about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.

5) Add cheese sauce to hamburger/noodle mixture.


+++Instead of completing step 4, you could add your own cheese, velvetta cheese, etc.
+++ I have also thought step 1 -3 alone would make a nice meal…..similar to goulash.
+++You could also cook the noodles in the broth before adding the hamburger and ketchup.

After meal is combined, I place in ziplock bag to freeze until ready to eat.

Chicken and Cheese Crescents

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
1 (10.75 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 cup shredded cheese
2 (8 oz) cans refridgerated crescent roll dough
1 1/4 cup milk

In saucepan heat cream of chicken soup, milk and 4 oz of cheese.  While that is cooking separate crescent rolls into triangles.  On each rolls place chicken (and cheese if desired) and roll up and place in 9 x 13 pan.

Once mixture is melted and smooth, pour directly into the baking dish.

*At this point I freeze.

If allowed to thaw for a couple of hours before cooking, bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 or until rolls are browned.

Stuffed Taco Shells

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
 3 oz cream cheese
1 tsp chili powder
18 jumbo pasta shells
2 TBS butter
1 cup taco sauce
2 cups shredded cheese
sour cream


Brown hamburger.  Add cream cheese and chili powder and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile cook pasta shells.  Then drain and toss shells in 2 TBS butter.

Fil shells with beef mixture and place in 9 x 13 pan.

Pour taco sauce over shells and cheese if desired.

* At this point I freeze.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  Top with sour cream if desired.


Chicken Tortellini Casserole

Ingredients:

9 oz refrigerated tortellini
2 cups frozen broccoli
10 oz alfredo sauce
10 oz grilled chicken breast
1/3 cup bread crumbs



Cook tortellini according the package directions and drain. Place in bottom of a casserole dish. Add broccoli, sauce and chicken.

* At this point I freeze.

Top with bread crumb.  Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes until sauce bubbles.  (Times are assuming the dish has been thawed in fridge over night.)