Goat Cheese Chicken and Red Potato Oven Fries

Ok, so this was soooo good! Although very simple, I have never made oven fries before...except for the ones you buy in the frozen food section! I was inspired by Kayte's blog http://kayteskitchen.blogspot.com/ to try it! They are super easy and super good! As for the goat cheese on top of the chicken...I don't remember ever having goat cheese before all the talk about it on the What's Cooking board. I had to try it...and it's as tasty as everyone says!

I took medioum sized red potatoes and cut them into bite sized pieces. I placed them on a baking sheet and sprayed with cooking spray. I then sprinkled them with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper, and dry parsley. I think these are my new favorites!!

As for the chicken, I poured some flavored olive oil (mediterranean garlic) over the chicken. About 5 minutes before taking it out of the oven, I placed deli sliced ham on top.

I placed both of these dishes in the oven together on 350 for about 30-35 minutes. Before serving the chicken...I put goat cheese on top!!

Stew Beef in Crockpot

Due to my less than ideal work schedule right now, I have planned a few more crockpot meals. I remember when my sister and I were younger, we always called it the crap-pot. For some reason we weren't thrilled with what was cooked in there...or maybe one meal we didn't like meant, of course, that we didn't like any of them!! As I look back, it's funny how things change...I would gladly take any meal that my mom ever cooked in the crockpot, and I guarantee there wouldn't be leftovers. Here is one meal that was frequently made. It's very tasty and inexpensive!

1 1b. stew beef (I used about 1.25 lbs)

1 packet dry onion soup mix

1 can cream of mushroom soup and add 1/2 can water

one can diced tomatoes

Start with frozen beef so it won't burn and overcook! Mix together all other ingredients and pour over meat. Cook in crockpot on low for about 8-10 hours...or until you get home from work! :) I served this over whole wheat rotini pasta, but any pasta will do.

Chicken Eugenie

This recipe is from one of my Grandma's. This is really easy and tastes great! When making for a dinner party...don't let them know how easy it is :)

Unfortunately, I ate too much...so there will not be enough for leftovers :(

I served this with a simple side salad sprinkled with feta cheese.

Chicken Eugenie:

4 chicken breasts

salt and pepper to taste

paprika

8-12 thin slices ham (I just bought thin deli cut ham in a container...can have lunch sandwiches with the leftovers.)

1/2 cup melted butter (I used light butter.)

1 can mushroom soup (can use low fat or fat free)

1 8oz carton sour cream (can use reduced fat)

1 4oz can sliced mushrooms, drained

1/2 cup sherry (I used red wine I already had on hand.)

Place ham in lightly greased 9x13 casserole dish. Top with chicken. (I placed the ham slices on top of the chicken instead of on the bottom.) Sprinle with paprika and salt and pepper. Combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Pour over the chicken and ham. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about one hour.

Cheating :)

Well, I guess this is another post that only half way counts. I buy my pork roast already seasoned and marinated, so all I have to do is cook it. Kroger actually had it on sale this week, so I stocked up! The one we had tonight was teryaki. They also have honey mustard and peppercorn.

To have with the pork, I sauteed zucchini, yellow squash, and onions in seasoned olive oil. I served them over whole wheat thin spaghetti and mixed in plenty of feta cheese! It was quite delicious!

MY Stuffed Peppers...

And yes, they are MY stuffed peppers...I made this recipe up, and it has been a favorite ever since!

This recipe can be somewhat healthy too. I use ground turkey, reduced fat sour cream, and reduced fat cream cheese to cut out some fat/calories :)

MY Stuffed Peppers:

1 lb. ground beef or ground turkey

1 can corn

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese

1 package of Lipton Spanish rice

4 green peppers

shredded cheese

sour cream

Cut the green peppers in half lengthwise and place on baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees until tender. While the peppers are in the oven, cook the rice according to the package directions and brown the meat. While the meat is browning, season it however you like. I season mine with crushed red pepper, black pepper, and dried cilantro flakes. When both are done, combine the two along with the corn and the cream cheese. Cook until cream cheese is melted and all the ingredients are blended together and bubly. Scoop mixture into the peppers and top with shredded cheese. Reduce the heat of the oven to 350 degrees and bake until cheese is melted. Serve with sour cream!

Sausages, Twice Baked Potates, and Tomatoes with Goat Cheese :)

This meal didn't take much from me, so this blog entry only half way counts :) I thought I'd still post it though since it might stir up some ideas for someone.

I bought this bottle of wine becuase my fiance has a somewhat new found interest in bocce ball...and becuase it was cheap. It actually wasn't half bad!


I didn't feel like taking too much time on dinner tonight, so I stopped at a little market we like and picked up some german sausages and twice baked potatoes. So unfortunately, as good as the potatoes were, I didn't make them :)

For a side/appetizer, I sliced some roma tomatoes and put a slice of goat cheese on top. Simple, but great!

I would have grilled the sausages, but I wanted this to be quick. I sauted some onions and peppers in flavored olive oil and also just cooked the sausages on the stove top.

Buffalo Chicken Lasagna

This is actually the very first recipe I got and made from the "What's Cooking" board on The Nest. Ever since then, I've wanted to make it again...and have also been addicted to the board!

I will have to warn you, that this doesn't seem "right" when putting it together...but it will be OK! The first time I made it, I was doubtful it was going to turn out right and was mad at the people who recommended the recipe!! :) However, it was and is delicious!

12 Whole Wheat Lasagna Noodles, uncooked

1 lb. Skinless Chicken Breast, cubed (I use more)

3 Cups Hunt’s Four Cheese Spaghetti Sauce

1 Cup Very Mild Buffalo Wing Sauce

1 1/2 Cups Water

15 oz. Nonfat Ricotta Cheese

1/2 Cup Egg Substitute

9 Slices 2% Pepperjack Cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Cook chicken over medium high heat for 4 minutes or until almost done. Stir in sauces and water. In a small bowl, combine ricotta cheese and egg substitute. Spray a 9X13 pan with nonstick cooking spray. Spread 1 Cup of sauce in the bottom of pan. Arrange 4 noodles over the sauce. Spread more sauce, then a layer of ricotta mixture. Add another layer of sauce, and repeat the whole process until you end with a layer of sauce. Cover and bake 70 minutes. Uncover and place cheese slices on top, then bake for another 15 minutes uncovered. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving.

Serves: 9 Per Serving: 285 Calories; 4g Fat (13.7% calories from fat); 29g Protein; 31g Carbohydrate; 5g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol; 1710mg Sodium. Exchanges: 3 Lean Meat; 0 Other Carbohydrates. WWP: 5

Black Bean and Corn Tortilla Cakes!

This has become a favorite of mine and my sister's. The recipe is originally from a cookbook called, "I'll Cook When Pigs Fly." It's our family's favorite cookbook with lots of great recipes. My mom actually always buys one as a gift for the bride when she goes to wedding showers.

I don't need the recipe anymore...it's so easy, but still so good! We often serve this with grilled chicken or steak. My dad always wants meat with the meal...my fiance feels the same way!

Black Bean and Corn Tortilla Cakes

1 diced red onion

1 can corn

1 can drained and rinsed black beans

2-3 cups shredded cheese (I use a Mexican mix)

9 soft taco size (6 or 7 inch) tortillas (I often use whole wheat)

olive oil

crushed red pepper

Combine red onion, corn, and black beans in a bowl. On baking sheets, lay out 3 tortillas. Top each with almost 1/2 cup mixture and sprinkle with cheese. Place a second tortilla on top of each and repeat mixture and cheese layer. End with a tortilla. In a cup, mix together 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper. Brush top of each tortilla cake with this mixture. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until cheese is melted, usually about 12-15 minutes.

Calzones...I mean Pizza!!!

Well, I was going to make calzones, and right at the last second I decided it was going to be a pizza...they're the same thing anyway really, right??? This isn't too exciting for my first post, but it's what sounded good!

There's not really a recipe, but here's what I did:

I used pre-made Pillsbury pizza crust dough. I bought pre-made pizza sauce and added a can of drained diced tomatoes and garlic salt to it. I chopped up 1/2 of a big red onion, 2 green peppers, and used pre-sliced mushrooms. I put all ingredients on the pizza, and toped with shredded cheese (a pizza mix, and some mild chedder). Baked according to the package directions for the dough.

Next time, I might bake the dough a little before adding the toppings. The outer crust was crispy, but the bottom was soggy...could have been due to the amount of sauce though. This hit the spot!

Jumping on the bandwagon

Okee dokee everyone...I'm doing it....I'm going to start my cooking blog. I love looking at other cooking blogs, and it makes me feel like I'm not contributing. I am not cooking today...so my blog will officially start tomorrow :)