Mango Chicken/noChicken Lettuce Wraps

OK, here is one of the recipes that I make chicken for Jeff and I used Tempah for Cade and I. Cade LOVED the tempah!

Ingredients:
1.5 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast
1 package Tempah (I used the spicy kind and it was SPICY!)
about 3/4 cups Spicy Mango Marinade from KC Masterpiece
2 mangoes, diced
1 celery stalk
8 oz. water chestnuts
2 garlic cloves
1 tsp fresh ginger
1 Tbsp Spicy Mango Marinade
Lettuce leaves
Optional: Use tortillas instead of lettuce wraps

Directions:
Marinate the chicken in the Spicy Mango Marinade for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator. ( I marinated for a whole day and this chicken was TASTY-according to Jeff of course, I would NEVER have tried it ;) -oh and I couldn't find Mango Marinade so I use Hawaiian and it was very good.) While the chicken is marinating, cut the mango and chop the celery and water chestnuts. Dice the garlic and ginger. Put oil in skillet and cook the ginger and garlic. Add the chopped tempah and water chestnuts. Season with some salt and pepper and other herbs and a bit of hawaiian or mango marinade for flavor. After the chicken thighs have marinated, grill them until they are cooked through. Then slice and dice them. Take lettuce and fill with chicken or noChicken mix, add celery and mangos and enjoy!


(this even looks like chicken!)

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients:
Sugar cookie dough-either make a batch from scratch or roll out a Pillsbury package.

(from scratch-Martha Stuart)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons brandy, or milk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

Whisk together flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar; mix until light and fluffy. With mixer running, add egg, brandy or milk, and vanilla; mix until well combined. With the mixer on low, slowly add reserved flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Transfer dough to a work surface. Shape into 2 discs, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with nonstick baking mats or parchment paper; roll out dough to 1/8-inch thickness to fit your baking sheet or pizza stone. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minutes; do not allow to brown.

Spread with cream cheese whipped topping. Simply stir together 8 oz cream cheese and tub of whipped topping.

Top with any fruit you enjoy!

Chicken/noChicken Fried Rice

I love fried rice! It's about the only Chinese food I enjoy. So I tried my hand at it. Not a bad hand, if I do say so myself :)



Ingredients:
1.5 cups uncooked rice
2 carrots
1/2 cup sweet peas
6 eggs
3 tablespoon of oil
soy sauce-to taste
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
3 tablespoons margarine

Directions:
Cook rice according to package. Dice veggies and set aside. Scramble eggs on medium-high low heat in a frying pan or wok (we've decided the slower the eggs cook the more delicious they taste. Add a bit of salt and pepper. Remove cooked eggs to a separate bowl. Put oil in the hot pan and dump the cooked rice in. Turn the heat down to 2 or 3 and add eggs. Dump in soy sauce to taste. Rice will not be completely covered, but should turn brown when mixed. Add garlic powder, pepper and salt. Stir. Add veggies and sesame seeds. Stir again. Add margarine. Stir and taste. Adjust seasonings as needed. Let rice cook for another 5-10 minutes. For a fun twist, eat with chopsticks!

Note: we are big eaters in this house and this barely made enough for the three of us. Can't wait to see how much Cade eats when he's a teenager!!!

Calzones and Pizza

Jeff's famous pizza crust used for pizza and calzones! Just add your fave toppings and bake. Mmmm, mmmm good!

Pizza dough

Ingredients:

2T dry yeast (2pkgs)
1.5 c warm water (110-115 degrees)
1T. Honey
1 c whole wheat flour
3 c unbleached flour
4T oil, 2 t. salt

Directions:
place yeast, warm water and honey in medium bowl, let sit 5 min. When yeast begins to bubble, add oil and salt and slowly stir in flour, reserving 1/2 c. for kneading. Knead 6 min. Wash bowl, lightly oil and place dough in. Set in warm spot, covered with damp towel until it doubles in size. (about 1 hour) Knead a little more and press onto pizza stone, or roll out for calzones. Bake at 450 for 5-10 minutes. Add toppings and bake again for about 15 minutes. (for pizza)

Ricotta cheese filling
Ingredients:

8 oz of Ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: stir together and done!

Topping
Ingredients:

pepperoni

olives

mozzarella cheese

artichoke hearts

mushrooms

pizza sauce

whatever you like!

Directions:

(for calzones) Heat oven to 350. Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown.

I had to get a photo of Cade enjoying the deliciousness :)

Cilantro Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts-grilled
1 packages pasta-cooked(i used tri colored penne, which was fun and colorful!)
3 jalapenos
bunch of fresh cilantro
1 package baby tomatoes
1 package sharp cheese
1 garlic clove
1 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
juice of 2 limes
2 avocados
salt
pepper

Directions:

1. grill seasoned chicken
2. boil and drain noodles along with a tbsp of olive oil and a tbsp of salt
3. pour noodles in a HUGE mixing bowl or serving platter.
4. while noodles cool, blend these things in a food processor:
-jalapenos(cut in half and take out seeds)
-lime juice
- half a bushel of fresh cilantro
- fresh garlic
-oil and vinegar
-tbsp salt

5. put this blended mixture on noodles.
6. add regular salt and pepper to taste if needed
7. add a package of cut baby tomatoes, grilled chopped chicken, and a package of sharp cheese
8. add sliced up avocado
9. MIX it up!
10. let sit in the fridge for a little bit if possible. serve cold.

Enjoy! The flavor is distinct and strong. The texture of the chopped jalapenos isn't my favorite. But all in all it was a great meal with PLENTY of left overs.

Summer Cake of Fruit (as opposed to fruitcake ;)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
grated zest of one lemon
1 cup flour
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 pinch salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups diced fruit (blueberries and strawberries this go 'round)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream the butter and the sugar (I do this by hand using two forks). Add the grated lemon zest. Add the eggs, and vanilla, stirring each to combine. In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir to combine. Pour the batter into a greased 8″ pan. Top with the fruit. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle the mixture on top of the fruit. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is browned.

Chocolate Revel Bars

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups rolled oats(i don't use the quick kind, but any will work)
1 14-ounce can (1-1/4 cups) sweetened condensed milk
1 and 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips(dark chocolate is fab!)
2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
1.Set aside 2 tablespoons of the butter. In a large mixing bowl beat the remaining butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar; beat until well mixed. add in eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla until well incorporated. In another large bowl stir together flour and baking soda and oats. Gradually mix dry mixture into beaten mixture. Set aside.

2. In a medium saucepan combine the reserved 2 tbsp butter, the sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate chips. Cook over low heat until chocolate melts, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 teaspoons vanilla.

3. Press two-thirds (about 3-1/3 cups) of the oat mixture into the bottom of a grease 9X13 glass pan. pour chocolate mixture over the oat mixture. Using your fingers, dot(drop chunks over) remaining oat mixture over the chocolate.

4, Bake in a 350 degree F oven about 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned (chocolate mixture will still look moist). Cool on a wire rack. Cut into 2x1-inch bars.











Delish! A nice blend of sweet decadent chocolate with crunchy oatmealy yumminess. 4 thumbs up! We haven't managed to do the whole 2 x 1 inch bars-more like 2 x 4! Oops! I think next time I make these I would sprinkle butterscotch chips and coconut over the melted chocolate. Mmmmmm!

Veggie-vore Ricotta Pizza

We just love pizza, and one day I'll have Jeff teach me how to make the most delicious crust EVER that he makes. But lately I've just been getting my crust pre-made from Whole Foods. This time I made half for me, the Veg, and half for Jeff, the Carnivore. It was quite delicious and inspired by NYC.

Ingredients:

Pizza crust

1/4-1/2 ricotta cheese

6 oz fresh mozzarella cheese

tomatoes

artichoke hearts

pepperoni

olive oil

pizza sauce

Directions

preheat oven to 400 degrees, or according to your crust instructions. Brush crust with olive oil. Top according to taste! (I just plopped spoonfuls of the ricotta cheese around. You could also spread it as your first layer over the olive oil and put the rest of the toppings on top.) Bake for 17 minutes and enjoy.