Revamped Chicken Rice Soup

Hi!

So, I had a craving for my babysitter's chicken & rice soup... but I decided to change it up a bit.

1# ground chicken
12oz bacon (I used low fat bacon)
1/2 bag (each) of frozen corn, greenbeans, and peas
2 stalks of celery- small dice
1 carrot- small dice
2 boxes of chicken stock, low sodium (AT LEAST 6 cups needed)
2c of rice (I used the long white grain that was on hand but is easy to just use instant as well. If using the long grain, it will take half an hour more to prepare)
1 onion, small dice
lawrey's seasoning salt (or use just plain salt if desired)
pepper

1. Cook bacon, I just used kitchen shears and cut the slices into chunks into the pot.
2. Remove and drain bacon and remove majority of grease into small bowl.
3. Cook ground chicken until no longer pink. (season with lawrey's seasoning salt and pepper!!!)
4. Remove meat, can put to chill out with bacon.
5. Pour 2T or remaining bacon grease into pot, add celery, onions, and carrots.
6. Cook until all tender.
7. Add rice, and cook for 5 min.
8.Add  stock, bring to boil.
8. Cook for half an hour until rice is tender.
9. Add meat and frozen veggies.
10. Cook for another 10-15min to reheat meat and veggies.

Serve immediately! :)

I will make this tonight so I don't have a picture yet but I figured I'd type it up now! Hope you like my twist on the already delicious chicken & rice soup! I almost forgot to add the corn, greenbeans, and peas until I went to the fridge! It looked great without those 3 other ingredients!  Feel free to omit or add any veggies. This dish is awesome!

P.S.- For a quick dessert, I bought frozen pound cake, sliced strawberries in a tub in the frozen section, and whipped cream! Yum!

I think I've put chicken noodle soup on here before...but!

SUPER EASY CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP!

6c water
2T chicken broth paste (can use bouillon or canned broth)
2 carrots, finely chopped
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1t salt
1t pepper
2 chx breast, cubed
1 1/2c small shell noodles


1. Bring water to a boil and add the chicken seasoning.
2. Peel carrots, trim celery and finely chop both.
3. Put veggies into boiling water/broth.
4. I had cooked chicken a few nights ago so all I had to do was chop it. This would be a GREAT recipe to use a precooked roast chicken from the store and just shred it in!
5. Add chicken to broth and veggies.
6. Cook for 15min to make sure veggies are cooked, add salt and pepper.
7. Turn off heat. Add the noodles.
8. I find that if I cook the noodles in boiling water and then let the noodles sit in the soup they get WAY too overdone, so that's why I shut the burner off to just let them chill and cook at their own pace without getting mushy. If you use bigger noodles, cook in boiling water for 5min then shut off the burner.

Can add parsley for a little flare if desired. This recipe is obviously simple and delicious! :)  You can add more veggies as well, perhaps fresh or frozen peas, corn, onion, greenbeans even!

Give this recipe a try! :)

Hamburger Noodle Soup!

So, finally, I've had a little bit of time and haven't felt like doing nothing so I made some soup today! It was inspired by my mom's recipes for cheeseburger and hamburger soup.

1.5# ground beef
2 med sized carrots, peeled and chopped into small cubes
2 stalks of celery, chopped into small cubes
1/2 yellow onion, cut in a small dice
1/2bag of egg noodles
5c beef broth
2c frozen peas
1c sour cream
salt
pepper

1. Brown  hamburger and add the first 3 veggies as you get them cut. Also season with salt and pepper.
2. Once meat is browned, spoon off excess grease/fat.
3. I use beef broth base so I boiled the water in a kettle, then added the base to the meat and veggies and added the hot water (this way the base doesn't get chunky and stuff, the hot water "melts" it into the water).
4. Bring soup to a boil, check your seasonings.
5. Add egg noodles and peas. Cook until noodles are al dente.
6. Stir in sour cream at the end.
7. Top with shredded cheese and oyster crackers!

Super easy and yummy! I know it's not a very good picture but hopefully it looks appetizing enough that you'll want to try it! :) I also considered adding some sweet corn kernels but didn't get to! Add whatever veggies you like and have on hand! It's a good way to use up things!

EDIT: Ok, darn thing won't let me post a picture!  Anyway, it's delicious. Trust me. :)

HELLO!!!! ZUCCHINI ALFREDO NIGHT!

I apologize SO much for not posting anything sooner than this!  I was hired for a lovely job as a cook at a nursing home and I travel back and forth from my aunt's to my mom's house so it's been tough finding a night to cook!

I discovered 2 new recipes from the show "hungry girl" on food network. Her episode was all about pasta.  Pasta is my trigger food. Once I start eating it, I can't stop. lol. So, these tips were VERY helpful!

the first is zucchini alfredo instead of the pasta, we use zucchini and instead of authentic alfredo sauce, we use fat free sour cream! It is SUPER delicious and easy AND filling!!


1 zucchini (per serving)
2T sour cream
salt
pepper
crushed red pepper flakes
oregano
basil
parmesean cheese

1. Peel the green skin off of zucchini.
2. continue peeling the zucchini into ribbons.
3. heat pan with a little bit of olive oil.
4. toss in zucchini and spices
5. once heated thru, add the sour cream and cheese.
6. heat the cream through and then serve!!

It is SO delicious it's practically ridiculous! =D The first time I made this I threw in some leftover steak, you could EASILY throw in leftover veggies or meat!

Here is another great recipe from her! Slaw and Order  I used leftover steak in this also. It was AMAZING how filling it was compared to the same amount of pasta!  On her recipe, I used tomato sauce (by accident) but that had fewer calories than the tomato soup so that is up to you!

I hope once July gets here I will be able to set aside days to load up recipes/ create recipes for here because I really like this just hard to find time! Sorry it took so long again!

Katie.

CHICKEN RICE SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSS!

2# chicken breast

8c/1/2 gal of chicken broth

3 carrots

3 stalks of celery

3T butter

2 1/2c minute rice

Salt and pepper

Lawry’s seasoning

Garlic powder

1.      Preheat oven to 400F.

2.      Season chicken with lawry’s, pepper, and garlic powder. Both sides.

3.      Cook in oven for 20-25min or until fully cooked.

4.      Chop veggies in small chunks or shred.

5.      Let chicken rest for 10min, then either shred or cube.

6.      In a soup pot, melt butter.

7.      Add veggies and cook until almost softened.

8.      Add rice and coat in butter cooking for a few moments.

9.      Add stock/ water and bouillon cubes.

10.  Let cook until rice is tender.

11.  Add chicken.

12.  Check seasonings.

13.  Serve.

My favorite babysitter, Marilyn would make this for her family during the day for supper while us kids were there, teasing me. My mom got the recipe from her so we’ve made it during the winter and fall and stuff and it always makes me think of going to Marilyn’s house. I’ve changed a couple of ways to make it, but it’s still chicken and rice! It’s simple and it tastes really really good! Enjoy! Sorry for no pictures btw, Jon has the iPod and he set up a lock code that I don’t know.

One note: Marilyn told me yesterday that you could easily just pick up a rotisserie chicken if you wanted to make this recipe even easier. Just remove the skin and shred or whatever.

**Sorry about the bad quality of picture, I had to use my phone! :P

Enjoy everyone!

Crab Rangoons

 

Crab Rangoons

3T Crab

1/4t Garlic

1/4t Jalapeno

1/4t Ginger

1T Red bell pepper

1 pgk cream cheese, softened (8oz)

Salt & Pepper

Wonton wrappers

Water

Directions:

1.      Mix first 7 ingredients together.

2.      Lay 1 wanton wrapper on a counter with sprinkled corn starch so they don’t stick to the counter/table. Make it so a point is facing you (diamond), not square.

3.      Put 1t of cream cheese mixture in the middle of the wrapper.

4.      Brush water on to one half of wrapper edges, fold over, press edges down to make sure they hold together, also try to get rid of ALL air pockets.

5.      Brush with egg yolk. (ONLY IF BAKING IN THE OVEN)

6.      Either fry in 375F oil for 2-3min or until golden brown.

7.      Preheat oven to 375F and bake for or until golden brown, flipping once through cooking.

Chicken & Rice

Chicken & Rice

Ingredients:

2# Chicken

2c Minute Rice

1/2c Carrots (2 med sized carrots)

1/2c  Scallions (5 scallions)

1/2c Brussel sprouts

1/2c Red Bell Pepper (1)

1/2c Water Chestnuts (1 can)

1/2c Bamboo Shoots (1 can)

1/2c bean sprouts (1/2 can)

1/2t Jalapeno

1 large clove of Garlic

1/2t Ginger

1t Chinese 5 Spice

Salt

Pepper

1T corn starch, mixed with water.

1T Soy Sauce

1t Hoisin Sauce

2T Vegetable oil

Directions:

1.      Place the rice and Chinese 5 spice in a large pan of lightly salted water, bring to a boil, cover, and then remove from heat, let seep for 3 min.

2.      Drain the rice, rinse under cold running water and drain thoroughly again. Set aside to cool.

3.      Heat oil in a preheated wok or large, heavy-based skillet.

4.      Add the thinly sliced chicken to the wok until it begins to just turn golden color.

5.      Add the red peppers and garlic, jalapeno, and ginger

6.      Add the cooked rice to the wok, a little at a time, tossing well after each addition until well combined and the grains of rice are separated.

7.      Add the carrot, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions, water chestnuts, and brussel sprouts and cook for 2 more min.

8.      Mix hoisin sauce and a 1T of cornstarch of water together.

9.      Add to wok, cook for another min.

10.  Drizzle with soy sauce and serve!

Schnazzy Scrambled Eggs!

Sorry it has taken SO LONG!!!! Been busy with midterms at college and just a tad stressed with finding a new job. Hopefully my future updates of recipes will win over your forgiveness. :) I have quite a few recipes to add so be patient! This week is spring break so hopefully I will have some time but I also have some severe health issues going on so, will have to visit doctor for 3 time in 5 months! Gr!

Anyway! On to the schnazzy scrambled eggs. Sorry about the pic quality by the way, mom took the ipod touch with her so had to use my laptop!

Ingredients:

3 eggs

1/3c milk

2T butter

1T cream cheese

1 scallion

1 slice of prosciutto (can use bacon, sausage, whatever you have on hand)

3 small brussel sprouts minced.

Cheese

Salt and pepper

Directions:

1.      Melt butter.

2.      Add scallions, prosciutto, and brussel sprouts, until browned.

3.      Scramble eggs with milk, and salt and pepper.

4.      Add to hot pan.

5.      Stir until cooked.

6.      Top with cheese.

7.      Serve with toast.

Hope you like it. Just using some staples that I have on hand. You can do the same. I like throwing stuff like this together. One day I even made green eggs and ham a few years ago and I just blended the eggs with leftover spinach leaves and added some bacon bits! If any of you have picky kids, they probably won't even notice the spinach taste and yet they'd get great vitamins!

Hope you find this interesting!

 *the little cubes on top are garlic mozzarella cheese*

Beef Stroganoff!!

Ok. So last night I tried to make onion rings. I tried to bake them in the oven. They didn't turn out very well so I'm not going to even make an effort to post it until I fry them at a later date.

Ingredients:
1#hamburger
1 can mushroom soup
1/2t garlic powder
salt and pepper
1/2c sour cream
noodles or mashed potatoes
green beans (For a side)

1. Cook hamburger with salt, pepper, and garlic powder (and onions if so desired). Drain grease.
2. add mushroom soup, 1 can of water, and cooked noodles.
3. Once ready to serve, add 1/4c sour cream.
4. To go with the stroganoff, try noodles or mashed potatoes and add green beans on the side, seasoned with salt, pepper, Lawry's seasoning salt, butter, and garlic salt.

We cooked our noodles in soup and water with the hamburger and stuff for about 20min OR just cook them in salted water according to package directions.:)

Brad and I made this. Hope you like it! :)

Fruit Spritzer! :)

Ingredients:

1 lime, juice

1 orange, juice

3 chunks frozen cantaloupe (about 1” cubes)

3 chunks frozen pineapple (about 1” cubes)

4 slices of frozen strawberries

1/4c sierra mist/7 up

Directions:

1.      Put everything in a blender.

2.      Blend until all incorporated and mixed.

3.      Add rest of sierra mist/7 up.

This will make 2 servings, dividing the pop and fruit mix between two glasses. Very refreshing! :)

Beef Enchilada Casserole/Lasagna

Ingredients:

1/4c Salsa

1/2c Sour Cream

1 ½ # ground beef

Tortillas

Salt

Pepper

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 jalapeño, deveined/seeded, minced

1 small onion, minced

1 taco seasoning packet

2c shredded cheese

Directions:

1.      Cook ground beef with onion, garlic, jalapeño.

2.      Drain grease. Add taco packet and water (however much according to packet directions).

3.      Mix sour cream and salsa to the hamburger.

4.      Grease casserole dish.

5.      Preheat oven to 350F

6.      Cook for 15 min or until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Layers:

1.      Meat

2.      Tortilla

3.      Beef mix

4.      Cheese

5.      REPEAT.

6.      Top with cheese.

Serve with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, tomato, whatever you have with your tacos. This is actually more like lasagna than enchiladas but it’s what my mom calls it (all the while horribly pronouncing “enchiladas” wrong. She says “an-chill-ah-dahs.” She’s close to getting it right but it’s “ehn-chee-lah-dahs”. Lol. I get annoyed when people mispronounce words. Such as… jalapeños (ha-lah-pain-yos) chiles (chee-lays) uhh yeah. There are many more that I may rant on at a later time and not to get me confused with some uppity cook, I just like to stay close to the food I make and that means pronouncing it right.

  My mom likes to add black beans with the hamburger mix but I didn’t do that today because 1. I accidentally forgot the black beans and 2. *whispers* I’m not exactly a fan of the beans in it. I typically like to add whole kernal corn for some color but I forgot those too.  :) Hope you like it, very simple and just something a little different than tacos!