..


Archive for ‘entrees’

May 8th, 2012

quick tortilla soup with avocado and lime

With Cinco de Mayo this past weekend and my inability to have a margarita or some ceviche, I had to find a way to celebrate somehow…. Luckily for me I didn’t have to search to far to find this recipe from Katie Brown for homemade tortilla soup! I had to make a few modifications to her recipe, but it didn’t matter because it turned out wonderful!

tortilla avocado soup

Ingredients

  • 14.5 oz can whole tomatoes
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cloves habanero garlic, minced
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded
  • 48 - 52 oz can chicken broth
  • 2 avocados
  • 1 bag tortilla chips, I used the mini rounds
  • 1 bag shredded cheese, I used a taco Mexican blend

Cooking Directions

  1. In a blender, puree tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapeno peppers.
  2. Add the mixture to a large pot (I used a 6 qt pot) and also add in chicken broth. Bring to a boil and simmer; season with S&P accordingly.
  3. Prepare bowls by layering the bottom with tortilla chips and a sprinkle of cheese.
  4. Ladle hot soup over chips & cheese, add avocado chunks and a lime wedge (optional).

The habanero garlic cloves were something we picked up on our way through New Orleans – you know the hubs loves his spicy foods! Combined with the jalapeno’s they added the perfect amount of heat for anyone to enjoy.

Later, when we reheated the left overs, we added rotisserie chicken to the soup and it was a great way to make it hearty for a full meal! This soup is so easy (I’m thankful I saw Katie tweet about it) – I love that you could even make it on a weeknight since it comes together so fast! It will definitely be made around here again.

Categoryentrees, recipe | Comment4 Comments »

Tags:
May 3rd, 2012

slow cooker Carolina pulled pork and slaw sandwiches

I’m finally getting back in the kitchen now that my nausea has subsided for the most part, but I’m still avoiding red meat. This week hubs invited over 2 friends from work for dinner and game night so I put my newly-found vegetarianism on hold and opted to make these scrumptious sandwiches for dinner. The recipe is in the latest issue of Family Circle magazine.

slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches

Yield: 8 sandwiches

Serving Size: 1 sandwich

Ingredients

  • 1 boneless, skinless pork shoulder roast (about 3.5 lb)
  • 1 tsp seasoned salt (I used Accent)
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 Tbsp canola oil
  • For the sauce
  • 1 Tbsp canola oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 1 cup vinegar
  • 3/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup packed, light brown sugar
  • 2 Tbsp spicy brown mustard
  • 8 buns (we used Ciabatta buns)

Cooking Directions

  1. Rub pork all over with seasoned salt and paprika. Heat oil in a large, nonstick skillet over med-high heat. Brown pork on all sides, 12 minutes.
  2. Sauce. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook 5 minutes. Stir in vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar and mustard. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
  3. Transfer pork to slow cooker; add sauce. Cover and cook on HIGH for 6 hours or LOW for 8 hours.
  4. Meanwhile, prepare coleslaw (see recipe below).
  5. Remove pork from slow cooker and allow to cool slightly. With 2 forks, shred meat, discarding fat. Stir pulled pork into sauce in cooker. Divide evenly among buns, topping with coleslaw.

homemade coleslaw

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup light mayo
  • 3 Tbsp cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/4 tsp celery seed
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1 bag (1 lb) shredded coleslaw mix

Cooking Directions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except the coleslaw mix.
  2. Once blended well, add in coleslaw mix and toss until well coated. Refrigerate until serving.

I loved this easy coleslaw recipe and it wasn’t overly vinegary or creamy – both pluses in my book!

The guys loved it too! I think each guy had 2 sandwiches! I served them with maple baked beans, fresh corn on the cob and we had rootbeer floats for dessert. It was a great summertime meal and perfect for a game night!

By the way – I won our first game of Yahtzee by an landslide, beginners luck I guess!

Categoryentrees, recipe | Comment6 Comments »

Tags:
December 8th, 2011

pagoda fried rice

To go with our Asian style honey glazed Chinese chicken, I also made this Pagoda Fried Rice. Oh my word it was heavenly!  My only regret with the rice is that I didn’t double the recipe! That’s ok though, it gave our guests a chance to save room for dessert!

Pagoda Fried Rice

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 - 3 strips bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch wide pieces
  • 6 green onions and tops, thinly sliced
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 4 cups cold, cooked rice (I used white rice)
  • 2 Tbsp Kikkoman Soy Sauce

Cooking Directions

  1. Cook bacon in hot wok or large skillet over medium heat until crisp.
  2. Add green onions and stir-fry 1 minute. Add egg and scramble.
  3. Stir in rice and cook until heated through, gently separating grains.
  4. Add soy sauce and stir until mixture is well blended.

The bacon really added a nice layer of flavor to the rice, my friends have never had bacon in their fried rice, now they can’t wait to add it! I love this simple recipe because you really could add a variety of veggies to it and make it all your own.

Thanks to Kikkoman for sending me their yummy products to use for my cooking, the food was a hit! This time of year is all about sharing and giving, and in the spirit of that, Kikkoman has given me a little something for YOU, my readers!

I’m giving away a $25 gift card to the Commissary and a coupon for up to $15 on a Butterball turkey! 

All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite thing to make for holiday guests is (or perhaps tell me your favorite thing to eat at a group gathering).  Feel free to leave a link to the recipes (if applicable) as well!

I’ll draw one lucky winner on Monday, December 12th at 10pm. 

Make sure to leave a correct email address on your comment so I can contact you if you win to get your mailing address for the giftcard & coupon.

Categoryentrees, recipe | Comment13 Comments »

Tags:
December 4th, 2011

honey glazed Chinese chicken

Hubs and I had some friends over for dinner this weekend.  Usually I’m just cooking for 2, but this weekend I was cooking for 6, that’s a big difference! Our friends frequently have me over to their house for dinner (usually when hubs is out of town for work), so it was a special honor for us to be able to entertain them.

I was recently given some Kikkoman products to try, so since my friends love Asian food, I decided to test out the Kikkoman products this weekend.  I’ve seen and used Kikkoman at Asian restaurants, but I’ve never cooked with it before.  I found the recipe for the Honey Glazed Chinese Chicken on their website, and I was honestly surprised at how simple the recipe was, since the flavors impressed everyone around our table!

Honey Glazed Chinese Chicken

Prep Time: 3 hours

Cook Time: 1 hours

Total Time: 4 hours

Yield: serves 6

Serving Size: 2 drumsticks

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • 2-1/2 lb chicken drumsticks

Cooking Directions

  1. Combine first 3 ingredients; pour over chicken in large plastic food storage bag. Press air out of bag; close top securely.
  2. Turn bag over several times to coat all pieces well. Refrigerate 2 hours or overnight, turning bag over occasionally.
  3. Bake chicken in 350F oven for 1 hour, turning pieces over and basting with pan juices once.
  4. Sprinkle on green onion before serving.

 

 

In between all the “mmmm’s” everyone was asking me how I made the chicken, and I actually felt a little shame since it was so easy! They didn’t care though, they just wanted to be able to re-create the dish.  The chicken was flavorful and super-duper moist; Drew (below) had the most – I think his total was 5 pieces of chicken!

Thanks to him I didn’t have to box up any leftovers!
I also made Pagoda fried rice to go with the chicken and for dessert we had peanut butter pie. We had a great night of food and fellowship.

I just love entertaining guests in my home, don’t you?

If so, come back later this week to enter to win a Comissary gift card (good for military members/anyone with military base access*) and a coupon for up to $15 off a turkey for the holiday season; everything you need to have your own friendly gathering at home!

*You do not have to be a military member to win, though you probably at least want to know a military member since Comissary’s are on military bases.

Categoryentrees, recipe | Comment5 Comments »

Tags:
« Older Entries