Made a ham, zucchini and red pepper quiche; served it with a side salad, some homemade caraway rye bread (I love my bread machine!), and mixed blueberries and strawberries for dessert.

Yummy artichoke.spiniach burgers from costco and home fries!!! and maybe a rum/coke!!

Fog, freezing rain, who knows? It's Chicago. Flights were/are all backed up....

Tonight, I get to have airport food, assuming I'm really coming back on tonight's flight. Gotta get there first.

dinner was yummo last night... I made this...


Crock Pot Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

1 large chicken, cut into serving pieces
1 cup packed brown sugar
2/3 cup vinegar (i reduced the vinegar to 1/4 cup, 2/3 cup of vinegar sounded like too much to me)
1/4 cup Sprite or 7-Up soda
2-3 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon pepper(regular black or cayenne)


1. Place chicken in crock pot.
2. Mix all remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
4. Serve over rice or noodles.
5. You can thicken the juices after cooking with a little cornstarch.

*... I just used 4 chicken drumsticks and there was barely enough sauce... if you are going to use a whole chicken you might want to double the sauce....

We had spinach ricotta shells last night in marinara sauce. Crusty chibatta buns as well.

I'm gone all day to volunteer training, so I might just pick up a roasted chicken at the grocery, and make a chicken ceasar salad tonight.

Marilyn, the chicken recipe looks good. Would be good over some ramen noodles.

That sounds really good Marilyn. Thanks for posting! I think I'm going to try this. I like using boneless chicken breasts - less fuss.

I am sure you already know but if you are going to use chicken breasts, you need to reduce the cooking time


yeah it would be good with noodles too

the sauce is runny so if you like a thicker sauce you would need to thicken the sauce after the chicken is cooked....

I have slowly found out that my hubby likes runny sauces ..lol

tonight I think I am making Shepherds Pie...

I just found this recipe on the Kraft site.. it looks interesting, might have to try it one day....

Potato Smashers

8 small new potatoes (3/4 lb.), about 1-1/2 inches in diameter
1/2 cup water
4 slices OSCAR MAYER Center Cut Bacon
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Zesty Italian Dressing
1/2 cup KRAFT Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

PLACE potatoes and water in 2-qt. microwaveable dish. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 10 min. or until potatoes are tender. Let stand 5 min. Meanwhile, cook bacon in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 8 to 10 min. or until crisp, turning frequently. Drain on paper towels.

DRAIN potatoes; place on work surface. Press each potato with bottom of small bowl or saucer to flatten to 1/2-inch thickness.

HEAT dressing in skillet on medium heat. Add potatoes; cook 4 min. or until bottoms are golden brown. Meanwhile, crumble bacon. Turn potatoes over; sprinkle evenly with cheese and bacon. Cover skillet with lid. Cook an additional 2 min. or until cheese is melted.


**

Healthy Living
Save 40 calories and 4 grams fat per serving by preparing as directed with OSCAR MAYER Turkey Bacon, KRAFT Light Zesty Italian Reduced Fat Dressing, and KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

Jazz It Up
Serve with BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream.

Jazz It Up
Garnish with chopped fresh chives just before serving.

does anyone know of a good inexpensive crock pot I could buy?? I have one already but I don't trust it... I think the wiring is messed up or something because it gets too hot and things cook really fast in it...

if I am going to be working I want a crock pot I can trust.... would be nice to throw everything in and have it waiting when I got home...

Leftover homemade lasagna from last night. Bee's having a boys' night out with his best friend so I don't have to cook tonight

My best crock pot was one I received from my Dad when I was 16 years old. For my hope chest. (Yes, I'm that old.) It was awesome. I left it in Canada when I moved to the US because my husband had one. I like mine better. I'm hoping it's still with one of the members of my family.


Yay for not having to cook tonight!

We had Thai chicken curry with basmati rice this evening. It was awesome.

Oooh, that recipe looks yummy. Marilyn, how do you find all these delicious recipes??? Is that your superpower?

when I was younger my mom was always surprised that almost every time i tried out a new recipe it was good...

I just seem to have a knack for sniffing out good recipes....

I also frequent the site recipezaar....

Thanks for the reminder Marilyn about runny sauces

We had chicken cesear salad last night. Tonight I'm going to finish up the chicken with a chicken noodle soy thingy. *I'm just going to throw some things together*

I too left my wonderful crock-pot back in Canada, and it was my favourite. I didn't get it for my hope chest, but I did buy it as one of my first items when I moved away from home.

Gene bought me one here, I don't know the brand, but it was pretty inexpensive. Think it was from K-Mart.

I am making Zesty Chicken BBQ in the crock pot today...


Zesty Slow Cooker Chicken Barbecue

* 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* 1 (12 ounce) bottle barbeque sauce
* 1/2 cup Italian salad dressing
* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce


1. Place chicken in a slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the barbeque sauce, Italian salad dressing, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
2. Cover, and cook 3 to 4 hours on High or 6 to 8 hours on Low.


as you can see we eat a lot of chicken.. chicken is awesome though because it is so versatile... you can make it a million different ways....

mmm, dinner is smelling good.. the only problem is that I should have halved the sauce... I didn't have 6 chicken breasts, just a couple of chicken thighs and I didn't think of it until too late that I should halved the sauce now I have a lot of sauce

Yay, we are eating out again tonight! It is fun having company! Last night I made a seafood medley stirfry with alfredo sauce (shrimps, scallops, fake lobster meat), with fresh caraway rye bread and a mixed green salad. Tonight we are eating Thai.

I have no idea what to do with dinner.. I was planning on having chicken BBQ sandwiches but there isn't really enough chicken for that... and plus I have all that sauce so I was thinking mashed potatoes but I don't have enough potatoes...

For dinner tonight - swiss chalet chicken caesar and fries - and yes, did some REAL packing today

Would anyone have a good recipe for homemade lasagna and one for a Shepherd's Pie? One that you've personally tried? Methinks Marilyn will have one.

I would really appreciate it though.

this is the recipe my mom always used for shepherd's Pie.. I have made some changes to it though...

Shepherd's Pie

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup each celery and onion chopped
1 tbsp flour
1/2 cup boiling water
1 OXO beef cube
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup frozen or canned corn (optional) *
2 1/2 cups hot, mashed potatoes (@5 medium)
1 tablespoon melted margarine
@ 1 cup grated cheddar or marble cheese (optional)

Saute onion and clery and ground beef. Drain off excess fat. Stir in flour. Dissolve OXO cube in boiling water and add to beef mixture along with pepper and salt. Turn into a 6 cup baking dish. Cover with corn if using, and top woth potatoes. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with cheese, if using. Bake for @ 30 minutes at 350 degrees.


*you could use peas too.. or mixed vegies etc...

** I like it just fine like this but my hubby suggested that I put some gravy or something in it too... so what I do is either make some beef gravy from scratch or just use one of those packets and pour the gravy on between the ground beef and the potatoes... I usually use about 1 cup of gravy

LASAGNA
For 8/10 (BUT I think it is closer to 5/6!)

1 lb meat – ground
1 clove garlic minced
brown together slowly – skim fat
1 tablespoon basil
1 to 1 ½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
¼ cup red wine
1 lb can tomatoes stewed – approx. 2 cups
2 6 oz cans tomato paste
mixed Italian herbs (oregano, bay leave, marjoram. etc.)

Simmer uncovered for ½ hour

10 oz noodles 1 oz = 1 noodle
boil and drain

3 cups creamy cottage cheese (small curd)
½ cup grated fresh romano (or parmesan/romano mix)
2 tablespoons parsley flakes
2 eggs – beat well
½ teaspoon pepper
Mix all of this

1 lb to 1 ½ lb mozzarella cheese – grated

Place ½ noodles on pan 1st
Then ½ cottage cheese mix
Then mozzarella
Then meat and
REPEAT

Oven: 375 for 30 minutes

15 more minutes if in refrigerator before cooking

LET STAND AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BEFORE SERVING

as for lasagna I don't really have a special recipe.. I just follow the recipe that is usually on the box of noodles....

I like to use a mixture of ricotta cheese and cottage cheese but then the lasagna doesn't freeze well, I also like to add some thawed frozen spinach in the cottage cheese mixture.... it is best to buy the dry curd cottage cheese and then I add an egg and salt and pepper to it...

then I fry up the ground beef with some onion and then throw in the tomato sauce....

then I just layer the ingredients in the pan....

usually a bit of sauce on the bottom and then a layer of noodles, more sauce and then a layer of cottage cheese, more noodles, more sauce, more cottage cheese and then another layer of noodles, the rest of the sauce and then grated cheese...

Thank you both.

i have no idea what dinner is going to be tonight... I have no chicken, ground beef or any other type of meat left in my freezer

Mmmmmm, swiss chalet. I brought a case of sauce with me when I moved.

I had originally made a soup/stew with some leftover smoked ribs for last night, but they had fresh Dover Sole at the Fresh Market so instead we had that with french green beans, carrots, and parsley potatoes with a buttery lemon/wine/garlic/thyme sauce.

Tonight we are having leftover smoked rib soup/stew.

my darling hubby brought home Chinese food for din din tonight without even asking... he said he knew I didn't usually cook anything on Fridays...

it wasn't the greatest Chinese food but it was edible.... the best Chinese fast food around here is about 15 to 20 minutes away.... this place was around the corner...

I could not bear the idea of cooking last night and neither could hubby, so we went to out to eat. I had a cup of corned beef and cabbage soup and a salad, hubby had a bowl of the soup. It was yummy (and definitely what to do with St. Patty's day corned beef and cabbage leftovers!)

We had chicken, rice and salad last night. I had this package of schezuan seasoning - that I was supposed to use for Mr. Ho's chicken recipe, but anyway, I baked the chicken in that and it was pretty good.

It's tough to pack and cook, but I also don't want to order food all the time either!

Not sure what's for dinner tonight, maybe some steak! Have some t-bones in the freezer and that sounds good.

We actually didn't eat dinner last night. Our friend who has been visiting us this week from Nebraska flew home yesterday afternoon, so we enjoyed 'desert' first with an ice cream cone at the airport together, then we stopped for lunch on the way home. By the time we finished lunch it was going on 3 o'clock and neither of us were hungry for dinner. We had a snack a little later in the evening, instead.

Tonight Joe is cooking! He likes to cook on the weekends, so we are having pinto beans simmered with jalopenos and some ham, steamed cabbage, carrots, yellow squash and potatoes. I just get to enjoy it:-). (hmm, and clean up the kitchen afterwards and do the dishes, hehehe - Joe is a good but messy cook).

Wellllllll ..... we were going to have a nice ham dinner for Easter and eat around 6pm. NOTHING went as planned. First, I realized I needed a couple more ingredients so I ran to the store, only to find out they were completely out of pineapple rings and maraschino cherries. Okay, so I improvised and, instead of nice pineapple rings on the ham, we had pineapple chunks in the pan the ham was cooking in (apparently hubby also used the toothpicks and forgot to tell me so unable to place the pineapple on the baking ham). Then, I go to make rice pie (a tradition in our family, recipe obtained from my Italian gma) ... except that, I realize that I apparently got the recipe from gma later in her life when she was a bit more confused than normal. So .... I puzzle over this recipe for a bit and call my mom and we try to decide what amounts would be correct. Put the pie in the oven, and later realize that it took twice the normal baking time. That did not clue me in though to what was ahead .... put the ham in the oven, and time the side dishes so everything would be piping hot at the same time (mashed potatoes and asparagus with hollandaise) ... well, go to pull the ham out and realize IT IS STILL FREAKING COLD even though it had been in the oven for over an hour (more than the time needed according to directions on the ham). Hubby comes to look at the oven and we realize, oven is broken. So hubby took the ham outside and finished it on the grill (burning my pan in the process). Dinner ended up being yummy though, albeit 2 hours late. I think I will be using the crockpot and stovetop a lot more in the near future until we can get a new stove ... so I will welcome any recipes that don't call for use of the oven

i think I posted a couple of crock pot recipes in this thread....

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1679232

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1654342

here are some crock pot and ans some stove top recipes....


http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1496134

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1118336

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=241151

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1591789

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1679232

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=1654342

chilli sgetti - Marilyn Style

I sauteed some onion, garlic and green pepper, then I added the ground beef and just browned it lightly.... Then I added a 14 oz can of diced tomatoes, 1 small can of tomato paste, plus a can of water, 1 bay leaf, a tsp of vinegar, 1 tsp of worcheshire sauce, some chili powder, some cumin powder, salt and pepper and a pinch of sweet paprika..... .. I brought that all to a boil and then I dumped it all in the crock-pot where I will let it simmer for about 8 hours... we will see how it comes out....


Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 pound cubed beef stew meat
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup (I used just plain old cream of mushroom soup)
* 1/2 cup chopped onion
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/4 cup water
* 1 or 2 tsps of soy sauce (this wasn't in the recipe but I added it)
* 1/2 to 1 garlic clove, chopped (this also wasn't in the recipe but I added it)
* 4 ounces cream cheese

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a slow cooker, combine the meat, soup, onion, Worcestershire sauce and water.
2. Cook on Low setting for 8 hours, or on High setting for about 5 hours. Stir in cream cheese just before serving. It might be kind of runny but once you add the cream cheese it thickens up a bit ...

*you might want to double the recipe good.gif YUM!!! YUM!!!!

THAT was hilarious, Autumn!

My Easter dinner didn't happen either. I woke up feeling blah and got progressively worse from there. Hubby picked up some ribs from the bbq place on his way home from work and I had soup. We had been planning on having a nice meal (monster sea scallops and shrimp on spinach salad) then heading downtown to sit on the 2nd floor balcony of our favourite cafe while sipping a glass of wine and watching the world go by. Instead I put the monster sea scallops and shrimp in the freezer and went to bed.

This morning I have woken up feeling about 75%, so tonight we are having ham, cabbage, pickled beets, french green beans and carrots, and parsley potatoes. All because Kathryn's dinner sounded so good and I am starving.

The Chicken Tortilla Soup and the Caribbean Taco Salad sounds like something I'd try, Marilyn. Thank you. (Though I'll omit the brown sugar in the taco salad recipe. We're not too fussed on sugary food.)

You know, every time I see a Kraft food recipe I'm hurtled back through time to when we used to watch Ed Sullivan or Red Skelton on TV and the Kraft recipe commercials would come on. Well, no offense to anyone who loves their stuff but..... EWWWWWWWWWWW. I'd be sitting there horrified (yes, even as a kid) at the stuff they'd mix together and the whole you're-not-a-good-mom/wife-if-you-don't-serve-your-family-this-shite thing. Anyway.... I guess that's the long version of why you won't find me making any Kraft recipes.

We were lazy and had Dominos pizza,lol

Well, did you at least have an Easter ham with pineapple on a portion of it?

Nope!! not Religious!!

you do know you don't have to use Kraft products to make Kraft recipes right??

autumnchik...probably not nice to laugh, but that was a funny Easter dinner story...one that you'll always remember. Sorry you're feeling sickly Crikey! I have just what you need!



Hope that makes you feel a little better.

We had a fabulous Easter dinner, with some ham that I just had to warm up, but made a glaze. I grilled some lamb chops with a lovely dry rub in my Foreman Grill. Made a vegetable casserole, and some Gruyere scalloped potatoes. Mmmmmmmmm

Have to get something to eat for breakfast now before I have to leave!

Tonight I'm going to make some asparagus soup, and have a ham and cheese loaf sandwich that I do in the oven.

Pizza pizza pizza

I'm pretty sure ham has nothing to do with religion.... tradition, maybe, but not religion. But I get where you're coming from.

Ohmygosh, Carla. That soup looks YUMMY. You don't happen to have the recipe that goes along with that, do you?

Lamb chops..... I thought I had some in the freezer so I didn't bother picking any up while I was at the Fresh Market 45 minutes from here. Rummaged through the freezer until my fingers were numb but couldn't find them so we must have eaten them already. Guess I'll be making another run to Fresh Market.

Thanks for the recipes Marilyn! I will be trying them. I have already made the beef stroganoff in the past and hubby loved it

Sorry you are not feeling well, Crikey. Hope you get to enjoy the scallops and shrimp soon.

Carla, YOUR Easter meal sounds yummy. What was in the veggie casserole? Have you posted a recipe for the asparagus soup?

I just put up some Japanese-style pickles, so in a few days (or tonight!) I'll be sure to report back.

Plate O' Shrimp.

Sorry you aren't feeling well Crikey!!

We did have the steak for dinner last night, I also got sidetracked making salad which resulted in the smoke alarm going off, so I said to my Husband 'your steak is done'! - however the steak was not burnt - all good

I'm not sure what's for dinner tonight, maybe pork chops.