Asian, Chicken, Main Dish, Wraps

Moo Shoo Wraps

October 7, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

8 flour tortillas

1 package broccoli slaw

1 cup chicken breasts, cooked and cut bite sized, or use frozen bourbon chicken nuggets

1 onion, sliced

6 mushrooms, sliced (or small can of mushrooms)

2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce

1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon molasses

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced (or dried ginger)

dash hot pepper flakes

dash balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed with 1/4 cup water

Heat wok or large skillet. Stir fry meat until cooked. Add onion and cook for a couple minutes. Add slaw mixture and mushrooms. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook until vegetables are crisp tender and sauce is thickened. Serve in wraps.

8 Servings

Casseroles, Chicken, Main Dish, Make Ahead, Mexican

Monterey Tortilla Casseroles

October 7, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

Nonstick spray coating

6 6-inch corn tortillas, each cut into 6 wedges

2 cups cubed cooked chicken

1 cup loose-pack frozen whole kernel corn

1 (16-ounce) jar salsa verde

3 tablespoons light dairy sour cream

3 tablespoons snipped fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1 cup crumbled Mexican Chihuahua or farmer cheese (4 ounces)

Light dairy sour cream (optional)

Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)

Chopped tomato (optional)

Jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced (optional)

Spray four 10- to 12-ounce baking dishes with nonstick coating. Place 5 tortilla wedges in the bottom of each dish. Place remaining tortilla pieces on a baking sheet; bake in a 350 degree F oven about 10 minutes or until crisp and golden. Meanwhile, combine chicken, corn, salsa, the 3 tablespoons sour cream, cilantro, and flour. Divide mixture among dishes.

Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 20 minutes. Arrange baked tortilla pieces atop casseroles. Top with cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. If desired, garnish with additional sour cream, jalapeno slices, cilantro, and tomato.

To bake frozen casseroles: Bake, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Top with tortilla pieces and cheese; bake for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Garnish as above.

To micro-cook frozen casseroles: Cover microwave-safe casseroles with waxed paper; micro-cook on 30% power, allowing 4 minutes for 1 casserole and 5 minutes for 2 casseroles. Continue cooking, covered, on 100% power until heated through, allowing 2 to 4 minutes for 1 casserole or 3 to 6 minutes for 2 casseroles, rotating the dishes once. Top with baked tortilla pieces and cheese; micro-cook, uncovered, about 30 seconds more or until cheese is melted. Garnish as above.

*Make-Ahead Tip: Assemble casseroles as directed above, except do not top with baked tortilla pieces; place baked pieces in a moisture- and vapor-proof plastic bag. Freeze casseroles and tortilla pieces up to 1 month.

4 Servings

Main Dish, Pork, Slow Cooker

Mojo Pork

October 6, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

1 cup Mojo Criollo Marinade (we used Goya)

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 1/2-lb boneless pork loin roast, well trimmed

2 navel oranges, peel and white pith removed, flesh cut into sections

1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Mix 3/4 cup of the marinade, the pepper and garlic in a 3 1/2-qt or larger slow-cooker. Add pork and turn to coat. (If you have time, cover and place in the refrigerator to let pork marinate for several hours, turning occasionally.)

Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours or until pork is tender.

About 10 minutes before serving, combine oranges, onion and remaining 1/4 cup marinade in a medium bowl. Leave at room temperature.

Transfer pork to cutting board; slice. Skim fat from top of liquid in slow-cooker. Spoon liquid over sliced pork. Stir cilantro into orange mixture; top pork with mixture.

6 Servings

Italian, Soups

Minestrone Genovese

October 6, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

1oz. dried porcini mushrooms

1/4 lb. Swiss chard, stems removed

1/4 lb. spinach, stems removed

Salt

2 small zucchini, diced

2 medium white potatoes, peeled and diced

2 Japanese eggplants, peeled and diced

2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups pasta

2 cups cooked white beans

2 tbsp. pesto (see recipe below)

Freshly ground black pepper

Soak porcini in 2 cups warm water until soft, about 20 minutes. Remove porcini, rinse, chop and set aside. Pour porcini water through a coffee filter and reserve. Chop chard and spinach leaves. Bring porcini water and 6 cups salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add porcini, chard, spinach, zucchini, potatoes, eggplant and oil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 1 hour. Add pasta to soup. Cook pasta for about 10 minutes, add beans and cook 5 minutes longer. Stir in pesto and season with salt and pepper. Serve hot or, in the Genovese tradition, at room temperature. Sprinkle with parmigiano-reggiano, if you like.

Pesto

2 tightly packed cups stemless fresh basil leaves

2 tbsp. pine nuts

2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped Coarse salt

1/2 cup mild extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano

Crush basil, pine nuts, garlic and a large pinch of salt into a fine paste with mortar and pestle. Drizzle in oil, stirring constantly, then stir in parmigiano-reggiano. Put plastic wrap directly on surface of pesto, then set aside. If using a food processor, put pine nuts, garlic and salt into the bowl of the food processor fitted with a metal blade and blend to a paste. Add basil, drizzle in oil and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and stir in parmigiano-reggiano.

Casseroles, Chicken, Main Dish, Make Ahead

Chicken And Rice Casserole

October 6, 2011 Sharon Leave a comment

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Deen

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup
1 (4 ounce) jar pimentos
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans green beans, drained and rinsed
3 cup diced cooked chicken
1 medium onion, peeled and diced
2 tablespoon butter or vegetable oil
1 cup mayonnaise
1 (6 ounce) box long-grain wild rice, cooked according to package directions
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350º F.

Heat butter or oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a large bowl.

Add all remaining ingredients to bowl and mix together until thoroughly combined.

Pour into a greased 3-quart casserole dish. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.