Salsa baked chicken.. .. oh yes.. .it is as good as it sounds. . .

Tonight is one of my favorites, not only because it is tasty but because it is soo dang easy!!  Salsa baked chicken.   I actually hard about this recipe from my sister in law after we both joined this website called Sparks People, its a fitness type of website where you can track your meals, track your work outs and watch your progress.  SO anyways, here it is. . . Oh, and some of you may want to have some Tums ready . . .

Ingredients
Chicken Breast
1/2 cup salsa (for each breast, also I use 1 cup)
jalapeno slices
olives
Optional
Mozzarella cheese
cilantro

Directions,

On a square of aluminum foil (big enough to fold over the chicken)  place 1 chicken breast, the salsa, jalapenos and olives

Fold all the ingredients up in the foil

place in the oven at 400 degrees for 1 hour.

remove the chicken, sprinkle with cilantro and cheese. . . enjoy with your favorite sides. .

TIP FROM READER: this evening I received a message that someone tried this and added some cream cheese. .  said it was soo good!!  So if you are a cream cheese fan, there is something else to tweak and make this your own!!  Thanks for the tip!!
Easy right?!?!  This one is really good with mexican/spanish rice.

I am really curious if any of you have tried any of these recipes . .so please let me know!

Meat loaf, with a twist. . .

This one is for those of you who like meat loaf, but sometimes want to change it up a bit. . this also happens to be a favorite of my two boys.   Serve with mashed potatos or on bread as a sort of meat loaf sandwhich. . .they are called Cheddar Loaves.  They are ridiculously easy to make, and also one that is fun to make with kids! I should also tell you, this recipe was given to me by my mother in law Margie when I married Brandon. . . she knew I would need it. :D Thanks for the tip!

Ingredients

3/4 lb hamburger ( I use 1 pound)
1/2 cup oats
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup grated cheese (I use a little over 1/2 cup)
1/3 cup chopped onion ( I use 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Sauce
1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp mustard
1/4 cup Ketchup
I double the sauce recipe as my hubby likes them saucy!!

Okay so you notice that I have shown what the recipe says and what I use, this is because over the years my hubby has given me tips on how he likes it . . . thats the great thing about recipes, you can make them your own.

Ready for the oven

So now with the directions

Mix all the "loaf" ingredients together and shape them. 

Place them in an ungreased pan

make the sauce and spoon it over the individual loaves.

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes ( I cook them for 45).




Then enjoy!!   Like I said, mashed potatoes, as a sandwhich, rice veggies, the possibilities are endless :D

Freshly baked and ready to eat!

EASY RIBS!

Once in a while you just want some fall of the bone ribs! These are easy and delicious. . . my hubby requests them quite often. . . which is alright by me.   A side note: Maddie is a big fan of the bones so she can chew on them :D Hey, any kid with "Wells" blood in them, teeths on rib bones, thats just how its done.  HaHa

So, for these Ribs, all you need is a

rack of ribs (we use pork spare ribs)
1 clove garlic
garlic powder (To taste)
1/2 onion (cut , also we use a red onion)
Seasoning Salt
BBQ Sauce (pick your fave!!)

The steps are super easy!
Fill a pot a little less than half full with water.

Add the minced garlic, the cut onion and the garlic powder.  One the water is boiling add the ribs. (You may have to section the ribs to make them all fit)

Once there is a good boil, turn the heat down to medium, cover and let boil for 45 minutes.


Just added the ribs, waiting for the boil.

After 45 minutes remove from the water, season with seasoning salt and grill 5 minutes on each side, adding the bbq sauce for the last few minutes to get good and melty. 

Remove from the grill and serve. . . with napkins :D


maddie is serious



Took a while, but here they are...Avacado Egg Rolls

So mommies, you know how sometimes life gets in the way?? That is what took me soo long to post thise recipe!!  First my son was sick for about  a week, he was really not happy.  Then I ended up in the Emergency Room... I had bronchitis... just the inflamation/virus part, not the hacking hit by a truck please kill me bronchitis like I normally get.  So that sucked.. THEN Madison got a fever that lasted about 2.5 days! Are you serious!    On top of all this Brandon and his boss have become partners and started their own timing company, Gemini Timing.  It is a dream come true for Brandon but it has been a lot of work.  So, yes the Walters have been busy... today though has a been a lounging going to the gym in an hour whew...somewhat back to normal.

So a quick story about the egg rolls.. I was making the sauce and was on a roll... until I pulled out my food processor.  I got this thing for my wedding almost five years ago.. have never used it, so of course when i pulled it out and put it all together, the dang thing was like, NO SIR I HAVE BEEN WAITING IN THE DARK FOR FIVE YEARS AND NNOOWWW YOU PULL ME OUT...TAKE THIS, and broke... so I was trying ot use my blender, and it wouldnt puree the sauce enough..so mine was a little thick..but if you have a food processor, be nice to it...it may get an attitude if you dont :D

Anyways, I know I posted that I made these a while ago, but here finally for your viewing and tasting pleasure...

Avacado Egg Rolls
INGREDIENTS
Dipping Sauce

4 teaspoons white vinegar
1teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon tamarind concentrate
pinch of ground tumeric
1/2 cup chopped cashews
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic
2 green onions
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/3 cup olive oil

Egg Rolls
1 large avacado, pitted, peeled, and diced
2 tablespoons chopped dry packed sun dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon finely chopped red onion
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
pinch of salt
4 egg roll wrappers
1 egg beaten
oil, for frying

Directions

1. To make the dipping sauce, combine the vinegars, honey, and tamarind in a microwave safe bowl.  Stir until the tamarind is dissolved.

2. Microwave for one minute

3. Using a food processor, puree the tamarind mixture, turmeric, cashews, cilantro, garlic, green onions, sugar, pepper and cumin.

4. Pour the mixture into a bowl and stir in the oil.

5. Cover and refrigerate until needed

6. To make the egg rolls, stir together the avacado, sun dried tomatoes, red onion, cilantro, and salt

7.  Place some of the filling in teh center of one of the egg roll wrappers

8.  Fold up one corner of the way over the filling.  Brush the remaining edges with the beaten egg, fold over teh left and right sides, then fold the top corner over all and press to seal.

9.  Repeat with remaining wrappers

10.  Deep fry the egg roll sin 375 degree oil for 3 to 4 minutes until browned.

11. Serve with chilled sauce

Tip: You can bake these to make them a healthier snack!

Walk away meals!!!

Some days I dont feel like slaving over a hot stove, or I want to go out and do something fun and have a meal when I get back! SSOO....embrace the crock pot! Tonight we are going to the gym to swim laps... this includes Brandon and of course the kids looovee kids club..Elijah has a crush on Miss Sarah haha....Anyways, this is going to be at 5:30 so when we get home at 7 we are gonna be hungry...so about 2pm I started dinner  POT ROAST from the crock pot...

This is soooo eeeaasssyy!!!


I forgot to put the onions in the picture :D

  INGREDIENTS 
 a pot roast that is the right size for your family
seasoning salt
onions (sliced)
  TA DA haha   okay there are a few things to add that are optional
1 14.5 ounce can of beef broth (I have an irrational fear of dry foods haha so sometimes I add a can of broth)
carrots
potatoes (tonight I am making oven roasted potatoes...but you can add them into the crock pot if you would like. )

SO the directions...
slice the onions and put them on the bottom of the crock pot
add the broth
season both sides of the pot roast and add to the crock pot

I set the crock pot for low 5 1/2 hours... which puts dinner time at 7:30  ... at 4:45 when I head to the gym I will add the carrots and let them cook for the last couple of hours ... they will be tender and full of flavor!!



Finished Roast!

 This is one of Brandons favorite meals, but he prefers mashed potatoes ... not tonight though. Tonight I am using a roasted potato mix that I found at Winco..yum!

Roast, Garlic Bread, Potatoes and Carrots....yyyuummmmmm

One of my FAVORITE MEALS!

Okay...So there is this instructor Margie at 24 hour fitness who kicks my butt, however she makes it fun...my mom does it with me so that makes it double fun!!!  Take a water class... and if you can take a friend with you...you will LOVE IT!

  Anyways..tonight is Cornish Game Hens, and Lemon Pepper Green Beans.... The garlic bread is Mama Bella (pre-made) from the freezer at Stater Bros... trust me, delicious!

  Starting with the Game hens, which my son calls baby chickens....

Ingredients

Game Hen (my hubby and I usually share one, but tonight everyone gets their own...)
Kosher Salt
Pepper
1/2 cup butter (melted)

Directions
Remove the hen from the packaging, Rub with Kosher salt and Pepper (this makes a crispy delicious skin) I mix the salt and pepper before I rub the baby chicken.... there is a picture below for reference

Put the chicken breast up in a roasting pan (clean up tip-line the pan with aluminum foil!!)

Heat the oven to 350 and cook for 1 hour or until the juices run clear..sometimes 1 hour 15 minutes.... While the baby chicken is cooking baste with butter every 15 minutes or so... delicious!

Second..the Green Beans
Ingredients
Fresh Green Beans
Lemon Pepper
2 Cloves garlic
Lime juice
Olive Oil




Directions
Cut the tips off the green beans and wash

Cut 2 cloves of garlic

heat 2 tablespoons of Olive Oil

Sautee the garlic, then add the green beans, sprinkle with Lemon Pepper

For a little extra tang, sprinkle with lime juice!! YUM!!

Cook them to the desired crisp... I like mine a little crispier but my hubby likes them soft so ours are right in the middle

So that is it... Easy Peasy Fresh and Easy right?? NOW, get to work, enjoy your dinner!!

Swimming and Chicken Parm for all the Moms!

It was soo hot day before yesterday, still in need of a good workout my mom and I hopped into the pool and swam laps for an hour!   The great part is even if you aren't a strong swimmer there are kick boards available to help! It was relaxing but still worked my musculos!! That night I didn't even want to walk I was soo wore out! Since it was also 85 degrees that day the water felt incredible!!!

   So, even though today was mothers day, I still made dinner..haha the hubby has a ton of work to do so I guess that's just the way it is.  It all works out because I love to cook, and I love to watch Brandon clean the kitchen!!  
   What did I make? My favorite dish of course... Chicken Parmigiana!!! YUMMMMM

Ingredients...there are quite a few..


I went with the Italian bread crumbs after I took this picture

 1 small onion chopped (if you have a slap chop..use it..cutting onions is no fun!!)
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of butter or margarine
1 14.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes, DO NOT DRAIN
1/2 teaspoon of sugar
1/8 teaspoon of salt
Dash of black pepper
1/4 snipped fresh basil
4 skinless chicken breast
1/3 cup seasoned fine dry bread crumbs(Progresso makes an excellent Italian seasoned bread crumb)
4 tablespoons shredded parm cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1 egg beaten
2 tablespoons of milk
3 tablespoons of olive oil or cooking oil... for those of you health conscious people...olive oil is the best choice
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese (about 1 ounce)

Directions:
1. For sauce: in a medium saucepan cook onion and garlic in hot butter over medium heat until tender.  Carefully stir in the undrained tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, about 10 minutes or to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.  Stir in basil, set aside but keep warm.   (I double my sauce because I serve the chicken over angel hair pasta so I like it a little saucier!)

simmer for 10 minutes or until desired consistency...remember I double my sauce so your pan may not look as full...

2.  Meanwhile, place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap.  Using flat side of a meat mallet, pound chicken lightly to about 1/4 inch thick and then remove the plastic wrap.  (Or you can buy foster farms chicken breast fillets.  They are already thin and perfect for this recipe.  In the pictures on this blog however, I had to pound my chicken down)

3. In a shallow dish, stir together bread crumbs, 3 tablespoons of the Parmesan cheese and the oregano.  In a second dish, stir together the egg and milk.  Dip the chicken in the egg mixture then in the crumb mixture to coat.


4. In a large skillet cook chicken in hot oil over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden.  Transfer chicken to a serving platter

5. Spoon sauce over chicken.  Top with mozzarella and remaining 1 tablespoon of parm.  Let stand about 2 minutes or until cheese melts.

That's it...now here are a few things I do different and you may want to try.   As I mentioned I put my chicken over a bed of angel hair pasta..soo good...  Once I put the sauce and cheese on the chicken, i stick it in the oven..this melts the cheese and makes everything gooey and delicious..trust me..this is one tip you will want to try.  

I also serve with Garlic Bread... mostly because I love garlic bread...   And finally, tonight I had Clos Du Bois Chardonnay to drink... trust me...if you like wine... you want to try this one... actually anything from Clo Du Bois is amazing!

So, to all the mommies out there..HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!   And to everyone who has tried this or any of the recipes I have shared... bon appetite!    (if anyone has tried any recipes, I would love to know what you though.....)



I learned, don't plate on a red plate if you are using a red sauce...it takes something away from the photo :)