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.)

Pizza Bagels

As easy as it sounds - 

Separate bagel into two.  Top with pizza sauce and toppings of choice (hamburger, pepperoni, cheese, etc).  Broil until cheese begins to bubble.

Bubble Up Pizza

Ingredients: 

3 (7.5 oz) pkgs buttermilk biscuits

1 (14 oz) jar spaghetti sauce

3 cups shredded cheese - any kind, we like mozzarella (I use less than 3 cups)

1 lg garlic clove, pressed

In large bowl, quarter biscuits.  Stir in 1 cup sauce and 2 cups cheese.  Press clove over mixture.  (Additional toppings can be added.  i.e.: meat, onion, etc.)  Spread mixture in 9x13 pan that has been greased.  Pour remaining sauce and cheese over top. 

*At this point I freeze to use for later.  

If you have time to partially thaw your meal, then preheat oven to 350 and bake for 30-35 minutes until biscuits are done.  If you are placing the meal in frozen it will take closer to an hour.

Beef Stroganoff

1 lb hamburger
1 can cream of mushroom soup
pepper and salt to taste
noodles

Brown hamburger.  Meanwhile cook noodles.  Add cream of mushroom soup.  Let simmer.  Pour over noodle….ENJOY!

This meal usually makes four servings.

Braided Spaghetti Bread

Braided Spaghetti Bread:

This is perhaps the most visually appealing meal I've ever made!  My sister often tells me that I need to take her "culinary photography" classes, so note that the picture doesn't due justice to the meal!

Bread Dough
Spaghetti Noodles
Spaghetti Sauces
Cheeses, of your choice (shredded mozzarella perhaps?!)
Browned hamburger, if desired
Egg
Italian spices

Prepare a loaf of bread dough, or thaw a boughten loaf.  I prepare mine in the bread machine.

4 cups of flour
2 tsp quick rise yeast
3 TBSP Vegetable oil
1 3/8 cup water
3/4 tsp salt

Mix the above ingredients and allow the bread machine to do the rest!

While the dough is being prepared cook spaghetti noodles, about 6 oz. 

Roll the dough out into a rectangle.  Using the middle of the rectangle combine the rest of the ingredients.  Lay down the noodles, top with sauce, cheese, hamburger and spices.

Once all of the ingredients are placed in the center of the rectangle, cut strips, about one inch deep (towards the ingredients) along both sides of the rectangle. Starting at one end, alternate crossing the strips of dough to cover the spaghetti.

Use the beaten egg to coat the top of the braid and sprinkle spices on top.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.  Enjoy!  (After cooking, you may cover and freeze.)   

Banana Crunch Muffins

Banana Crunch Muffins:

3 large mashed ripe bananas

3/4 c sugar

1 egg

1/2 c melted butter

Mix together.  Add the following ingredients:

1 1/2 c flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Grease the bottom of the a muffin tin.  Fill about 1/2 full.  On top, sprinkle the following mixture:

1/3 c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 TBSP flour

Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.  Be careful not to over bake.  They will appear dark, but yummy nonetheless!

Pizza Burgers

Pizza Burgers - - so simple and a husband favorite.

Brown 1 pkg hamburger then add 1 can tomato soup (Do not dilute first like you're actually making soup!) stir around to get it all hot. Then add 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I use mozzarella), 1 tbsp. Italian seasonings (I add oregano and basil) and cook until cheese melts. Separate buns and top each bun with meat mixture and more cheese-place in oven on top shelf with it set to broil and 500* -Cook until cheese bubbles and melts

If you're planning to freeze this mixture, move to the fridge the night before eating.  Enjoy!

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole 

Cook 2 chicken breasts.  Cut these up into small pieces.  While those are cooking, cook about 10 bacon strips.  I use turkey bacon, but any bacon would work.  Cut the bacon up into small pieces.  Combine the chicken and bacon pieces with 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese.  The cheese does not need to be warmed or melted at this point.

If you want to use this as a freezer meal, place the chicken, bacon and cheese together in the freezer at this point. 

When you're ready to cook add a small bag of tater tots along with your bagged ingredients and place either in the crock pot or oven.  I also add amount a cup of milk and pepper to mine.  It takes about 4 hours in the crock pot or 1 hour in the oven (350 degrees).  In the crock pot, the tater tots will become soft and your meal will evenly mix together.  If cooking this meal in the oven, the tater tots will become more crunchy and your meal will be layered.  As my husband would say, both ways are "flavorful!"

French Toast

  French Toast - the right way!

Create a mixture with beaten egg and cinnamon.  (1 egg per sandwich.)  Take two pieces of bread and spread your favorite topping (we like peanut butter or Nutella).  Put those sides of bread together (you can even add bananas if you desire).  Dip the sandwich in the egg mixture and place on a griddle.  Cook both sides - ENJOY!

Stromboli

  Stromboli:

Make a loaf of bread dough.  I prefer to make 1 lbs loaf in a bread machine.  You can also buy from the grocery store. Spread the loaf out into a rectangle on a greased cookie sheet.  On the bottom 2/3 of the dough spread a mixture of your liking.

My inside mixture: pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, canadian bacon and pepperonis.

Fold in the sides to prevent mixture from squeezing out the sides.  Roll the mixture starting with the end with the mixture.  When finished, make sure the crease of the dough is facing down.

Beat an egg and spread on top of the Stromboli.  Sprinkle spices on top. I prefer parsley.  Cut slits in the top.  Bake at 500 for 10 minutes.

Cashew Chicken

Cashew Chicken: Spicy

Boil 2-4 chicken breasts (depending on size) and cut into bite-size pieces.

Meanwhile, combine a mixture of

                 4 TBSP Soy Sauce

                 1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch

                 4 tsp sugar

                 2-3 tsp vinegar

After cutting up the chicken, place in a skillet and add 1/4 cup oil, and 1 TBSP soy sauce along with red pepper flakes, onion salt, and minced garlic (add to your liking).  Add 1/2 of the mixture and 1/2 cup of cashews until the sauce is all absorbed.  Take the chicken off of the stove and add the additional 1/2 of the liquid mixture.

I double the liquid mixture and then pour the other half over rice and top with chicken.  This chicken also tastes great wrapped in a tortilla shell.

Bacon Cheeseburger Wrap

Bacon Hamburger Wrap

Ingredients: 

        Frozen or Homemade Bread Dough (1 loaf)

           1 lbs. browned hamburger

            5 strips of cooked bacon (cut into small pieces)

            velvet cheese diced into small pieces (amount depends on how cheesy you want your wrap)

Thaw your bread dough and prepare a greased surface.  On the greased surface, roll dough into a rectangle.  I create two smaller rectangles.  (1 loaf of bread dough can create two wraps.  Each wrap feeds 2-3 adults.)  In the middle of the rectangle(s) place hamburger, bacon and cheese.  Fold in the sides of the rectangle.  Then begin with the side closest to you and roll to create a runza shape.  Make sure the seam of the bread roll is placed down and no openings are showing.  Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.  

If you choose to freeze, still bake.  Then wrap in seran wrap and tin foil.  Take out of the freezer and place in the fridge, 1 day before you plan to eat.  I place in the oven for 10 minutes and then finish in the microwave.  Placing it back in the oven for a few minutes first, allows the bread to remain crisp. 

New recipes!

Check out the new cashew chicken recipe on the Main Dishes page!  Mmmmm!

What is my job?!

As I look at my students, I often try to figure out what my job truly is.  Each student is so uniquely different with such different needs that our job descriptions are constantly changing.  We are editors, counselors, motivators, secretaries, advisors, advice-givers...(not only for the students, but co-workers as well)....the list goes on and on.  And people say our job is easy!

A teacher-candidate recently asked me about teachers and the amount of money they get paid, as he was looking for my opinion on the matter.  Trying to give him a realistic, yet optimistic answers, I truly discovered what makes me most upset about the teacher pay.  I am not, in any way, complaining about what I get paid.  I do, however, get upset by ignorant people who say that teachers should not get paid for what they do, after all we are only on the clock for 9 months out of the year.  Agghh.....that may be true, but I'd like to meet one teachers who really only works 9 months and only works the contract hours.  I, like most teachers, work 10 hr. a day - - at the school building.  This doesn't account for the other 2 hr every night, nor the weekend hours.  Lunch - sure we get lunch, but often  always, lunch includes sitting between two students, assisting them with homework.  Oh, and let's not forget the games, activities, and award ceremonies that we are expected (and enjoy) going to in order to support our students.  Again, I'm not complaining, in fact, I love my job.  There are too many people commenting on teacher pay, that don't truly understand the dynamics of our jobs.  Just recently I read a scholarship essay from a student that is pursuing a career in education.  That student credited me with the success he experienced in high school.  That alone, was worth more than any pay-check can offer.  So to anyone out there pursuing a career in teaching.  The rewards, however you may view them, are truly worth it.