Saute'd Potatoes

This is such a tasty and simple way to prepare potatoes for dinner. Because of the simplicity in flavor, this dish compliments meat, fish, pork or chicken. I've offered some seasoning suggestions, but be creative so the potatoes compliment the flavors in the main dish you are serving at any given time. Blessings...

Recipe:

4 medium-sized red or gold potatoes
1 tbsp. each butter and olive oil for sauteing, use more if needed
1/2 tsp. seasoning blend of choice such as Italian, Cajun, barbecue or southwest. Also, seasoning with salt, pepper and garlic powder is wonderful.

1. Cook potatoes until tender in boiling salted water; drain.
2. Melt butter in skillet over medium-low heat; add olive oil. Stir in potatoes; sprinkle with half the seasoning and saute' until potatoes are golden brown. Stir potatoes and sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Continue sauteing until potatoes are all a lovely golden brown color adding more olive oil if skillet gets too dry. You want the potatoes moist, not dried out from over frying.

Yield: 4 servings

Cranberry-Apple Crisp

A few weeks back I was able to purchase some of the first-of-the-season cranberries for a wonderful price and I couldn't wait to make this favorite dessert. This easy to make crisp only takes about 30 minutes to put together and about 40 minutes to bake, so it works great for a weekday meal, as well as for a holiday meal.

I created this variation of an old favorite using Honeycrisp or Gala apples because they are sweeter than the traditional cooking apples, but don't cook down to mush. As a result, less sugar can be used. I also love the addition of apple pie spice in place of the traditional cinnamon. Blessings...

Recipe:

2 cups fresh or frozen thawed cranberries, rinsed and picked over
3 cups unpeeled, cored and coarsely chopped Honeycrisp or Gala apples
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Topping:

1 1/2 cups dry oatmeal, not instant
1/3 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup flour
1 1/4 tsps. apple pie spice
1/3 cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In an 8" x 8" ungreased baking pan, combine cranberries, apples and granulated sugar. Set aside while preparing topping.
3. Combine topping ingredients in a medium - sized bowl.
4. Stir filling ingredients again to make sure the sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle topping evenly over filling and gently press down.
5. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are fork - tender. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm, plain or with vanilla ice cream.

6 servings = 347 calories without ice cream and 5 gms. fiber
8 servings = 260 calories without ice cream and 4 gms. fiber

Spinach Rice Bake

I first found this recipe years ago in San Francisco A La Carte, a cookbook produced by the Junior League of San Francisco, only the dish was called Herbed Spinach Bake. The recipe I use now is an adjusted version that was submitted to Taste of Home by a reader. This cook changed some of the herbs and added nutmeg, which is a wonderful addition with the spinach. We love this dish alongside meat, poultry and fish in place of potatoes. I've served it here with Chicken Parmesan posted on 10/23/2013. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
1 cup cooked long grain rice
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded medium cheddar cheese
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
3 tbsps. finely minced onion
2 tbsps. minced fresh parsley
2 tbsps. butter, softened
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1. Cook spinach according to pkg. directions; drain well by pressing the spinach with the back of a large spoon in a fine mesh strainer.
2. Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir to combine.
3. Transfer mixture to a greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish.
4. Cover with foil and bake in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover; bake 20 - 25 minutes more or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Yield: 4 - 6 servings
Note: The casserole can be prepared in advance, covered and stored in the refrigerator until time to bake and serve.

Fruited Cabbage Salad

This recipe is one of those creations that comes from necessity, you know, one of those times when there is stuff in the refrigerator and you need to get dinner on the table, but don't have a clue as to what you are going to do. I didn't have whipping cream and oranges to make the Fruit and Cabbage Salad posted on 3/29/2010, but I did have some summer fruit and some Cool Whip. So, I added some nutmeg to the Cool Whip, because it is my husband's absolute favorite spice, and dressed the shredded cabbage and chopped fruits with the mixture. He liked it, and that's good enough for me. Maybe your family will, as well. The Chicken Parmesan recipe was posted on 10/23/2013 and the Spinach Rice Bake is to come soon. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 cup shredded cabbage
1/3 cup fruit such as halved grapes, sliced strawberries, chopped fresh pineapple or pineapple tidbits, or mandarin orange slices. I used a variety.
1/3 cup Cool Whip
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/3 cup miniature marshmallows, if desired

1. Combine shredded cabbage and fruit in a salad bowl.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the Cool Whip and nutmeg; stir into salad. Stir in marshmallows.

Yield: 2 servings
Note: This would be very easy to increase for a larger family; just go by your families needs.

Taco Soup

Years ago when we lived in California, my husband tasted this soup at a potluck at work. He liked the soup so much that he brought the recipe home for me to make. Like so many recipes I have, it was put in a drawer and forgotten. I came across it awhile ago and decided to give it a try. I didn't have all the ingredients on the pantry shelf so I had to make a few substitutions, but they worked. The recipe is basically a "dump" recipe. You know, the kind of recipe in which you open a can and dump it in the pot? We ate the soup without the taco chips and cheese, and because it has such good flavor it is still a delicious soup. Saves calories, as well. So easy to throw together at the end of a busy day when everyone is hungry. Blessings...

Recipe: 

1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 16 oz. can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 16 oz. can whole kernel corn, undrained
1 16 oz. can Mexican style tomatoes, undrained
1 16 oz. can tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 4 oz. can chopped green chilies, undrained
1 small can sliced olives, drained
1 cup beef broth
Tortilla chips, Mexican 4 cheese blend, if desired

1. In a large soup kettle, brown ground beef and onion. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
2. Add all remaining ingredients except tortilla chips and cheese. Cook over medium heat until heated through. (I covered the pot and simmered the soup for about 20 minutes to blend the flavors).
3. Put broken tortilla chips in each soup bowl and ladle soup over. Top with cheese.

Yield: 9 1/3 cups
Note: I didn't have Mexican tomatoes, so I used plain diced canned tomatoes. I also didn't have a pkg. of taco seasoning, so I used 2 tsps. Southwest Seasoning and 1 tsp. ground cumin. I had leftover olives in the refrigerator so I sliced about 1/4 cup. All worked very well.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

This easy chicken recipe is one I made a few times, as written, and I was not happy with the end results. The crust became a soggy mess in the baking process and was all but flavorless, as a result. I decided to give frying a try in order to crisp-up the crust, and I added some garlic for more flavor. What a dramatic difference when some butter and olive oil are added to a hot skillet and the chicken is fried for about 6 minutes per side. Crispy and flavorful on the outside; moist and tender on the inside.

Here the chicken is served alongside Spinach Rice Bake and a cabbage salad I'm working on. The recipes will soon be posted. This chicken would be delicious served with pasta and a marinara or spaghetti sauce. Blessings...

Recipe: 

1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsps. Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 egg, beaten to blend in a pie pan
5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz. each)
1 tbsp. olive oil, add more if needed
1 tbsp. butter, add more if needed

1. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet between sheets of plastic wrap until of uniform thickness. This ensures even cooking.
2. Combine bread crumbs, cheese, and seasonings in another pie pan.
3. Heat a 12" skillet over medium heat; add butter to melt. When the butter is melted add the olive oil and stir to combine.
4. Dip chicken breasts in egg and then coat in crumbs. Add to hot skillet being careful not to crowd the pieces. Fry for 6 minutes or until a deep golden brown. Turn pieces and continue on second side for 5-6 minutes. If the chicken is browning too fast turn heat down to medium-low. I cook on a gas stove and I needed to turn the heat down because it cooks very hot.

Yield: 4-6 servings
Note: I use empty cereal bags for pounding meat. They are much sturdier and my meat mallet doesn't get clogged up with meat. Much easier clean-up and less expensive than plastic wrap.

Steamed Cabbage

This recipe is one of my favorite "go-to" recipes when I have cabbage in the frige. I read about preparing cabbage in this way in a cookbook on southern cooking; before then, I had never heard of it. This preparation is so simple and tasty. This is my version of the original created by the cookbook author. Blessings...

Recipe: 

2 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 tsp. butter
1/2 - 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
lemon-pepper seasoning

1. Steam the cabbage in a vegetable steamer basket until crisp-tender; just a few minutes. Don't overcook as the cabbage will get mushy and unappealing. Remove to a serving bowl.
2. In a small bowl, melt butter in the microwave; stir in 1/2 tsp. lemon juice. Pour the dressing over the cabbage and sprinkle with lemon-pepper seasoning. Taste and add more lemon juice and lemon-pepper seasoning a bit at a time until the desired taste.

Yield: 2 servings.
Note: This recipe is easily increased for a larger family.