Quick Dinner Ideas

I have a couple of quick dinner ideas that I love to use that I thought I would share. One of these ideas was given to me by my mother and the other by my mother-in-law.

Chicken Teriyaki
1/4 tsp ground ginger
5 to 6 pieces of chicken
1 garlic clove crushed (I used garlic powder)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar

1. Brown chicken in a frying pan. Mix rest of ingreedients together and pour over browned chicken.

2. Cover and cook for 1/2 hour or until tender, turning halfway through cooking.

We like to eat this over rice. You can also add veggies to the chicken and Teriayki sauce as well.

Sweet and Sour

1 cup grape jelly
1 cup chili sauce

Put both ingreedients in sauce pot and heat through.
You can also add pinapple and green peppers to this.
Serve over chicken or meatballs and rice

Enjoy!

Vicagleasers

This has been sitting in my email forever and I thought I would post so that if we all lose the recipe there is a copy on the world wide web. For those who aren't a Michaelis and have no idea what this is I will explain. It is pretty much a poor mans dumpling soup that came across the ocean with Ryans family came to America. ENJOY
Ingredients:
3 eggs
¾ cup milk
1 ¾ tsp. salt
Flour
Turkey or Chicken broth
Butter

Note: Use your turkey carcass to get your broth and leave meat from the carcass in the broth to add flavor. You can also use some of the meat and roll up in the dough. Plain broth work also.

Heat the eggs, milk and salt until frosty. Add enough flour so you can handle the dough. Divide into 4 parts and roll onto board (about 5x12 inches); spread with butter. Roll and cut into 1 to 1 ½ inch rolls. Drop into HOT broth and cook for 1 hour.

Busy Mom Chili

This chili is really good. And very easy and quick.

Brown 1 lb of Ground beef (also very good with ground turkey)
with dried minced onion an garlic to taste.

Drain Grease and add the following:
1 28oz can tomatoes with liquid
2 tsp celery salt
1 T chili powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 27oz can kidney beans drained
1 80z can of tomato sauce

Simmer for one hour.

Kraft Foods

As it is Summer time grilling has been on my mind a lot lately. And what is using most commonly when grilling??? BBQ Sauce! I noticed that Kraft has a website on the BBQ sauce bottle so I went there and I LOVE it. I have gotten several new recipes that my family loves and they are extremely easy and cheap :). So for new wonderful recipes go to www.kraftfoods.com
You won't regret it!

Pioneer woman site

If you haven't been to this womans ste and tried some of her recipies you are missing out!!!
Here is the link -----> Pioneer Woman Cooks
Things that I have tried that I LOVE!!!!
Marlboro mans favorite sandwich
Cinnimon rolls
Chocolate sheet cake
Potato wedges
Berries and cream
Basically everything is REALLY GOOD (although I tried the bread pudding and... not so much!)

You must go to her site and try everything. You won't regret it!

Chicken Alfredo something...

Hey there! Here is an AWESOME dinner that we just love. Seth kinda made it up after a pizza we get from Papa Murphy's. And it's goooooood!

Penne pasta (cooked) and drained
about 4 slices of cooked bacon crumbled
1 diced green onion
1 can italian diced tomatoes (any kind will work though, stewed, regular, whatever)
1 jar of Ragu Light Parmesean Alfredo sauce
1-2 grilled chicken breast, torn into pieces

Cook what you need to (chicken and pasta and bacon) and throw it all in together.
YUMMY!

Moroccan Stewed Chicken

A friend of mine found this recipe in a Men's health magazine. It was quick and easy and pretty good for you.

1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (we used breast tenders cut in half and it worked)
1 large zucchini cut into cubes
1 16 oz can of Garbanzo beans, drained
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup chicken stock or water
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 Heat the oil in a large saute pan or a wide pot over medium high heat. Season the Chicken with salt and pepper, place them in the pan, and cook them for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until the brown thoroughly. Add the Zucchini and continue cooking, stirring occasionally.

2 When the zucchini pieces have browned lightly, add the Garbanzo beans, tomatoes, chicken stock, cayenne, cumin and cinnamon. Turn the heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Season to taste with more salt and pepper and garnish with chopped cilantro. Makes 4 servings

Eat with 1/2 cooked couscous (prepared per package instructions) tossed with 2 Tbsp golden raisins, 2 Tbsp toasted pine nuts and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro.
(We put it over brown rice and it tasted great)

Per serving
420 calories
31 grams protein
41 grams carbohydrates
15 grams fat (3 grams saturated)
7 grams fiber
610 milligrams sodium

Kirstys Awesome Nachos

5 cups of nacho chips
1/2 16 oz. can of refried beans
1 lb hamburger
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 16oz. jar of Pace chunky salsa
cheese...lots and lot of cheese
you can add...jalapenos, sour cream, olives, chili's

Heat oven to 350. Brown the hamburger, drain fat, and then add the taco seasoning according to its directions (like your making tacos)
Once the seasoning is absorbed add salsa and refried beans. You can add more or less of either depending to what you want. Put 2 1/2 cups of nachos on a pan and then add half of the meat mixture. After putting on the meat mixture put anything extra you like and then add as much cheese as you want on top of that. Put in oven and let cook until cheese is melted (about 5 min). Take out of oven.
Add 2nd half of nacho chips and the rest of the meat mixture. Again cover with as much cheese as desired along with your personal extras and cook until cheese is melted. Take out and let cool for a couple minutes then EAT!!!! Depending on how much you make this can either be a meal, a side dish, or a snack. It does hold for very long and doesn't taste as good the next day but what good nachos do???

Better-than-Almost-Anything Cake by: Betty Crocker

Ingredients:
Betty Crocker Super Moist German Chocolate cake mix
1 1/3 cups water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 eggs
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 jar (16 or 17 oz) Carmel, butterscotch, or fudge topping
1 container (8oz) cool whip
1 cup toffee chips or bits (I like to crush Heath bars instead)

Directions:
1. Use directions on box to make cake
2. Poke holes in cake every 1/2 inch (I use the bottom of a knife)
3. Drizzle sweetened condensed milk evenly over top of cake
4. Drizzle Carmel, butterscotch, or fudge topping evenly over top of cake
5. Run knife along the sides of the cake to loosen
6. Allow to cool for two hours and then putting cool whip and toffee bits on top

This is the BEST cake ever. Ryan and I can't stop eating it once I make it. It sounds odd but it soooo good. Everyone HAS to try it, even if your not a cake lover you will love this cake.

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls

Mix and let rise for 15 minutes

3 1/2 cups warm water
6 Tbs yeast
1 Tbs salt
1 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
5 cups flour

Once done rising mix well. Add 5 1/2 more cups of flour. Mix until all flour is well blended. Beat additional 5 minutes. Spray counter top with Pam or lightly oil with shortening. (I found this didn't work as well as flouring the counter top). Turn out dough. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick, spread with butter, cinnamon and sugar. Roll from long side of roll of dough to make rolls. Cut and put on baking sheet. Raise 10-20 minutes. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly brown.

Additional roll ideas.
Sugar Bears: Use brown sugar with cinnamon
Cherries 'n cream: Cream cheese and cherry pie filling(or any pie filling)
Orange: Orange juice thickened to paste with flour.
Hawaiian: Crushed pineapple and coconut thickened with flour.
Rocky Road: Chocolate shavings, marshmallows and nuts
Christmas buns: Spread with butter, sprinkle crushed candy canes also mix in frosting
Mexican: Refried beans and meat. After baking sprinkle with cheese, olives and salsa. Return to oven long enough to melt cheese
Twists. Cut 1"x4" strips of dough and twist around 1/2"x4" strip of ham. Top with cheese after baking and melt in oven.

This recipe makes a lot. A friend suggested making the whole recipe and using half for a dinner option and the rest for desert.
I have done both the rocky road and Mexican buns. Both with wonderful.

Cranberry-white chocolate cookies

These are really additive cookies.

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/2 butter softened
1 1/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips
1 (6oz) package sweetened dried cranberries

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; set aside

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture gradually, beating at low speed until blended. Stir in white chocolate morsels and cranberries.

Drop cookie dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto lightly greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

I only used half of the chocolate and cranberries and it was plenty. It makes about 3 dozen.

Cinnamon Muffin Recipe

1 ½ cups flour
½ cup sugar
1 ½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp nutmeg
1.8 tsp salt
1 egg
½ cup milk
1/3 cup melted butter

In a bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. In another bowl combine 1 beaten egg, milk, melted margarine, add to the flour mixture and stir until just moistened.
Grease bottom of muffin cups, fill 2/3 full and bake at 350* for 20 minutes. When done, immediately dip into melted butter and then ¼ cup sugar and ½ tsp cinnamon.

Fettuccine Bake

1 lb Hamburger (I use turkey burger)
1/4 cup chopped onions
1 16 oz can tomatoes (I can't find 16 oz cans anymore so I use 14.5 oz cans)
1 tsp Oregano (Italian seasoning works well too)
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
3 beaten eggs
2 T margarine
1/2 tsp garlic powder
8 oz hot cooked fettuccine noodles
1 T parsley

Brown meat in a skillet, drain. Add onion, tomatoes and oregano; bring to a boil. Simmer 20 minutes. Stirring Occasionally. Combine Parmesan, eggs, Margarine, parsley and garlic powder. Toss noodles with egg mixture, add to meat. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Cheddar Burger Skillet

This was one of my kids favorites.

1 lb. ground beef
1 med onion, chopped
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/4 cup water
1 - 16 oz. potatoes, sliced or cubed

Cube or slice the potaotes and boil
until just starting to get soft.
brown onion and beef, drain.
add rest of the ingredients and heat.

combine both potatoes and sauce and
cook until potatoes are completely cooked.

Not for kids with milk allergies. Hopefully
when they grow out of them.

Easy Chili

1 lb. lean ground beef or turkey
1 onion chopped
1 clove garlic - minced
1 green pepper - seeded and chopped
14 oz. pinto beans - drained
28 oz diced tomatoes (sodium free)
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional) - I don't use any

Brown Beef with oinon, garlic and pepper over medium
heat until fully cooked, Drain.

Add spices and beans - Stir for 1 min.

Add tomatoes and bring to a boil.
Lower heat and simmer on low for 10 - 15 min.
Stirring occasionallly.

This is actually a healthy meal if used with turkey.

Pie Crust

Single 10 inch crust

1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp water

Mix flour, salt & shortening together with two knives or a pastry cutter till mixture has the consistency of small peas. Add water, one Tbsp at a time and toss lightly with each addition. Shape just to hold together and rollout on a floured surface. Put pie pan on top of circle of dough and make sure the dough extends far enough beyond sides to coversides and make a pretty edge. Fold in half, fold in half again so you have a triangle shape. Pick up and place top of triangle in the middle of the pan, unfold to half and unfold again to fill pan. Flute the edge, prick the bottom of the pastry and bake at 450 for 10-15 minutes until golden brown. If you are doing a double crust pie just double the recipe.

Creamy Mostaccioli with Bacon and Mushrooms

This is easier than it sounds

6 - 8 slices bacon, cut up
2 (4.5 oz) jars mushrooms drained
1/2 package Mostaccili, uncooked (other noodles may be used)
3/4 cup half and half (I used milk)
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2 teaspoons parsley flakes
1 small garlic clove, minced
6 - 8 drops hot pepper sauce
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup slice green onions (optional)

In medium skillet cook bacon until crisp: remove from fat and set aside. Add mushrooms to bacon fat. Cook until tender, set aside.
Prepare noodles to package directions; drain. In same saucepan, combine half-and half, butter, parsley flakes, garlic and hot pepper sauce. heat just until butter melts, stirring frequently. Combine bacon, mushrooms, noodles, sauce and parmesan cheese. Toss to coat. Garnish with green onions. Serve immediately.

Beef Stragnoff

Brown one small onion in Skillet (or use onion powder)

Brown 1 lb. hamburger - crumbled

Drain well

Add 1 can cream of chicken soup and 1/2 carton sour cream (4 oz)
heat and serve

Serve over: potatoes, noodles, rice or toast

Cobbler

Crust and topping Glaze
1 ¾ cup sugar 1 cup powder sugar
1 cup margarine or butter 1 – 2 teaspoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla ½ teaspoon vanilla
4 eggs
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
Save ¼ for topping,
Grease large cookie sheet. Spread ¾ of crust on to the cookie sheet. Add fruit or pie filling on the top of the crust. Use the last of the dough for the topping by spreading first with your fingers and laying in patches on top of the fruit. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 min. until golden brown. Top with glaze.



World’s Best Fudge

3 ½ cups "Milk Chocolate" chips
½ teaspoon salt (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups crushed nuts
Place ingredients except nuts in a large glass bowl. Microwave for 1 ½ minutes. Remove from oven and stir very quickly until ingredients are blended. Stir in chopped nuts and pour into a buttered dish. Chill until firm.


I know all of these are sweets. I will start posting healthier recipes soon.

5 minute chocolate cake

Great idea if you have a sweet tooth but do not want to make a big cake.

4 Tbsp. flour
4 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
3 Tbsp. oil
3 Tbsp. each chocolate chips and/or nuts (optional)
A small splash of Vanilla extract
1 Large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well. Add egg and mix thoroughly.

Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the Chocolate chips (if using)
and vanilla extract, and mix again.

Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1,000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed. Allow
to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

This can serve two if you want to feel generous.

Skip the icing and put on a spoonful of whipping cream or ice cream.

I tried it once and it was pretty good.