Showing posts with label groceries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label groceries. Show all posts

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Day 25 - Bill & Family Meal Dos

Today was softball game NUMBER ONE!!! So no cooking.
I told you way back on Day 11 I made Bill some deliciously tasty Coconut Chicken Tenders with Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes to cover this day. I got to try the chicken tenders, but not the potatoes. Very sad! But the chicken was oh so tasty that I don't even know what to do with myself! Seriously!

I gave you the recipes on Day 11 and I'll give them to you again now, because I'm just THAT awesome!!!!! Please try them now! You won't regret it, swear!

Coconut Chicken Tenders w/ Honey Marmalade dip

Ingredients:
Honey Marmalade Dip:
1/2 cup of Honey
1/2 cup of marmalade

Chicken:
2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut in strips
1 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1 egg
1/2 can of condensed milk
1/2 cup orange juice
salt & pepper to taste
peanut or vegetable oil for frying

Method:
Dip:
In a small bowl, add honey and marmalade. Heat in microwave for 1 minute. Stir everything until mixed well and serve with coconut chicken tenders.

Chicken:
On a cookie sheet, season chicken tenders with salt and pepper on both sides. Set aside. In medium bowl, mix orange juice, condensed milk and a beaten egg until your "wet" mixture is well incorporated. In another bowl, mix coconut & Panko breadcrumbs.

Heat Vegetable or Peanut oil in a medium skillet or pan on a medium heat. Fill pan about 1/2 inch with the oil. Dip and fully coat each tender in the egg mixture first, then the breadcrumb mix.

Fry each tender for 6-8 minutes or until all pink is gone. Tenders should be golden brown. Serve with Honey Marmalade dipping sauce.

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

Ingredients:
Potatoes:
3 tbsp butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 oz)
26 oz bag frozen shredded hash browns
1/2 cup light sour cream

Topping:
3 cups corn flakes, slightly crushed
2 tbsp butter, melted

Method:
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until the onion is softened and translucent,a bout 5-6 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute. Combine the chicken broth and milk in a liquid measure and slowly whisk in the mixture. Add the salt, pepper and thyme. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Take the pot off the heat and stir in the cheese until smooth. Mix in the frozen hash browns, lifting and folding the mixture until well combined. Finally, stir in the sour cream.
In a medium bowl, toss the lightly crushed cornflakes with the butter until evenly combined. Scoop out the potato mixture into a 9X13-inch baking dish and top with the buttered cornflakes. If baking the potatoes by themselves, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly around the edges. If baking the potatoes with a ham (my ham recipe bakes at 300 degrees), bake the potatoes for 90 minutes at 300 degrees then crank the oven to 400 degrees and bake the potatoes for 10 minutes more. In both baking situations, let the potatoes rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Sometimes I Think On Wednesday's

I thought today was as good a day as any to spew some random thoughts. Nothing really earth shattering, just thoughts in general. So here goes!

1. I am over half way done with my 30 meals for 30 families in 30 days project and I've noticed 2 things. I am not as bad of a cook as I thought and I. AM. EXHAUSTED! I never knew that cooking dinner would make me so tired! Why didn't anyone tell me this beforehand??? ;) Another thought on the same subject; tonight is "Day 17" and I've already cooked 17 meals for 19 families! How cool is that! I've planned ahead and scheduled meals for 2 days I am absolutely unable to cook and already given them to the family. What can I say, I was anxious to get it done! haha

2. I have always wanted this dress. 


No I know I'm in no shape to wear a dress like this, but maybe one day. After I get down to my goal weight, I'll make it happen! Pair it with some leggings or something. 
Totes adorb. In pink though, I'm not a huge purple fan.


3. Since we're on the subject of weight loss... I have been doing a super crazy diet since January. It's called Fat Loss For Idiots, very fitting. Since January I have lost about 22 lbs. Now I know that doesn't sound like a whole lot, but for me it is! This is the longest I have stuck with a diet and have continued to lose weight. Everything else I half do, or only stick to for a week. Now if I could just get my mom to go grocery shopping! haha We are totally out of food at my house right now! For breakfast I had 3 slices of turkey & a yogurt. I'm starving!! haha 


4. I am IN LOVE with the House of Night book series! Chizity-check it out. I will admit that I am already a big baby & cry at commercials, but I seriously have gotten so emotionally attached to the characters in this book series that I cry reading parts of it. Even though I know it's just a book, it just makes me so dang emotional reading about all the bullpoopie (as Zoey always says) that they go through. 
Read it. Love it. DON'T. JUDGE. ME.