Chinese takeout anyone?

Alright Gurus, so here is a nice easy chinese stir fry that will curve your cravings for that yummy and greasy chinese food. I make this when my family and I don't know what else to make! So instead for paying 20-40 bucks worth of chinese take out, make your own for less than 5 dollars a person!! So here it is...

Chinese Stir Fry

For this dish, be creative! Use your favorite veggies and throw them in the pan to add to your stir fry. Also, in this recipe I use hoisin sauce. This is a chinese sauce that you can keep in your pantry and it hard ever goes bad. It is always nice to have to add to anything ti add a tangy rich flavor. You can even add it to chicken breast and use it like barbecue sauce! Believe me definitely worth having in your pantry,

Ingredients:

6-10 pieces of chicken (you can also use beef tips, etc. whatever your in the mood for!)

Veggies: I use,

1 package of sliced mushrooms

1-2 yellow onions

1 stalk of fresh asparagus

Peppers (optional)

1 tablespoon of fresh ginger

2 cloves of garlic

Hot pepper flakes

Salt/Pepper

About 1 cup of hoisin sauce

For serving: Brown rice (you can buy the 10 minute rice, its cheap and it comes with four bags!)

Tip: When you buy fresh ginger, you need to remove the outside. Since you bought fresh ginger, and usually there is a lot left over, you can actually wrap it in plastic wrap and freeze it! It will stay for about 5 months.

Directions:

I bake the chicken first. It makes this dish easier to put together. As the chicken is cooking you can work on the veggie. So cook chicken (seasoned with salt/pepper/oil) on 350 degrees for about 30; Chicken breast about 40 minutes and tenders/cutlets 20. 

First pour oil in a large skillet turn on medium high heat. Add asparagus and let cook for about 5 minutes. Then add onion, ginger, hot pepper flakes, salt/pepper and garlic. Let cook until asparagus and onions turn tender and when the ginger and garlic are fragrant. Now add mushrooms (peppers optional). Let this all cook for about 10 minutes. Once chicken is finished and cooled, cut into shredded or bit sized pieces. Add chicken to the veggies. Stir all together. Now add the hoisin sauce. Stir again and this time taste to see if there needs to be more or salt/pepper. Now serve this up with some rice and EAT! : ) 

I also bought Sriracha (a red spicy sauce usually found in chinese restaurants) to dab on top of the stir fry. It is SOOO yummy with this dish.

Enjoy!

You're gettin' lucky tonight...V-day dinner #3

Hey Cookers, your getting lucky tonight! I was given a request for a Chicken Marsala dish. SOO I decided to share a 3^rd dinner idea for your lover! Here it is...

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:

1 Package of chicken cutlets (I usually get about six at the market fresh)

About 1 cup Marsala wine (This is found by the cooking wine)

1 package of mushrooms (already sliced)

1 onion chopped

Butter maybe about 3 tablespoons

Oil

Salt/pepper

1 clove of garlic

Cook up some pasta or rice to serve with the dish.

Directions:

First sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, add about 5 tablespoons of oil to coat the bottom of pan and on medium high heat fully cook the chicken cutlets. Once chicken is fully cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside. While the chicken cools, melt about 3 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet where the chicken cooked, add the onion, salt and pepper. Saute onion until tender, about 2 minutes. Now add the mushrooms and garlic and saute until the mushrooms are tender and the juices evaporate, about 12 minutes. Once the juices from the mushrooms evaporate a bit, add the wine and simmer until it is reduced by half, about 4 minutes. Now at this time your going to return the chicken to the skillet to have them soak up the yummy juices. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 2 minutes. MAKE SURE you taste the sauce, it might need a bit more salt or pepper, you decide. Then eat up :)!

Valentines day dinner #2!!!!!

Alright Cookers, here's dinner #2 for your sweetie! I cooked this up for my sweetie and he LOVED so I know it was a success! So here it is...

Chicken Wrapped with Bacon


Ingredients:
1 pack of chicken breast
5 pieces of bacon lightly cooked
2 roman tomatoes
Salt/pepper/garlic powder


Sauce:
3/4 cup of milk (maybe a little more for thinning)
3 tablespoons of flour
The bacon oil from lightly browning the bacon
and the juice from the chicken after baking
Salt to taste
3 talespoons of pepper
(I also add a bit of grated cheese it's optional)


Directions:


First cook your bacon on medium heat so it has a nice brown to it, then place aside. Now prep your chicken by placing it on a cookie sheet. Sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder over the chicken. Cut the tomatoes into thin circles and place on top on chicken. Once bacon has cooled, wrap width wise around the chicken and tomato. Drizzle a little oil over each piece of chicken. Preheat oven to 350 and baked chicken for 40 minutes. I also made some asparagus with the chicken. I sprinkled salt, pepper, garlic powder, grated cheese and hot pepper and baked them for about 12 minutes at 400. This was a nice side to pair up with the chicken.
So now, when the chicken is finished, use the juices from the chicken and pour this into the pan with the bacon oil. Add the flour and let cook on medium high heat for about 3 minutes by constantly stirring. Then add the milk, salt, pepper and grated cheese. Stir constantly until thick. Taste it! See if it needs more salt or pepper.
Now plate every thing up! Take out the asparagus, place chicken on the plate with the yummy cream sauce and Buon Appetit!!! : )

BUT WAIT...On V-day there needs to be some chocolate!!! So I have created a yummy recipe if you would like to try this. You can actually make this multiple ways...you'll see what I mean.

Homemade Chocolate Bars

Ingredients:
Store bought brownie mix
Ice cream of your choice (I picked a white chocolate raspberry frozen yogurt)
1 package of semi sweet chocolate

Sauce:
You can by an already made caramel sauce or you can make it this way :
1 cup of sugar
6 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

Tip: Now if you do not want to make bars, simply just make brownies and lay the brownie with ice cream of your choice, caramel and whipped cream!!

In a small square pan, cook brownies according to directions. Once they are cooked, place them in the freezer for about an hour. Take out your ice cream of choice now so it can soften. Once brownies have cooled, take the ice cream and spread over the brownies ( You can also put ice cream in mocrowave for a few seconds to melt, therefore it would be easier to spread too). Once even and spread over brownies, place in freezer again and let sit over night.

Melt chocolate over the stove or in the microwave in a safe bowl ( Make sure not to burn the chocolate!!). Take out brownie and ice cream dish, and cut into rectangles. Once chocolate is melted, grab bar by the brownie and dip the whole bar in the chocolate, everything should be covered and it should look like an ice cream bar! Place on a dish and freeze again until serving time!

Now for the sauce, add sugar to a small sauce pan and heat sugar while constantly stirring. When sugar begins to turn a light brown color and sugar has melted, add the butter. Whisk and melt together. Once butter is melted, add the cream and whisk, whisk, whisk! The mixure will foam up, but thats normal, keep mixing for about 5 more minutes until everything is nice, smooth and thick. let sit for about 5 more and then pour into a dipping dish. Now take out your ice cream bars and start dipping and eating!! YUMMM

Alright cookers, let me know how this went!

Have a Happy Valentines day : )

Valentines Day is right around the corner!!! love love love

Alright cookers, so I 've decided to give you two dinner ideas to WOW your V-day date. Show them your a pro at cooking with this easyyyyyyyyy and yummmyyyy cheesy alfredo dish. Honestly, he/she will think you went to culinary school or something, its THAT GOOD!

Simply Alfredo
This a quick and super simple way of making Alfredo sauce. I learned this from my father and he learned this from working as a cook when he was young. So trust me, an Italian man making a simple Italian dish...it muussttt taste good.

Ingredients:
Linguini (or any pasta you like)
Heavy cream (You can get to small sized cartons of heavy cream or the next size up.)
1 container of grated cheese (for the sauce and for topping)
Butter
1 clove garlic
Salt/pepper
oil

Tip: This is a really simple dish and the more grated cheese the better. I put almost a full container of it! Its soo good.  Also you can throw in some veggies, cooked chicken, lobster, etc. or whatever you like.

Directions:

Cook pasta and set aside.

In a medium sauce pan or large frying pan on medium heat, pour about a table spoon of oil and pad of butter into the pan. Once melted, add the garlic and let cook for about 5 minutes or until fragrant. Next, pour heavy cream into pan and let come to a boil for about 10-12 minutes still on medium-high heat. If it needs longer time to boil and to become a bit thicker then let it sit a bit more. (You be the judge of whether the cream is getting thicker. Here is a trick, if you dip a spoon in the cream, take it out and swipe your finger down the middle and see a clear line with a bit of cream holding up on each side of the swipe then it is getting thicker) Now it is time to add the grated cheese, salt and pepper to taste.  I add about a half of a container of grated cheese, but I might add a bit more towards the end. So let the cheese melt into the cream by stirring constantly for about 8 mins. Taste it! See if it needs more cheese. If it does add it, if not you can add your cooked chicken, veggies or whatever you may have to add to the cream.

Now serve it up!! Serve with crusty bread and Buon Appetito Amore : ) !!!!

I will be posting my 2nd V-day dish tomorrow...I'm makng it for my love : ) Stay tuned! 

Girl Scout cookie recipes... oh yummy!!!!!

Alright Cookin Gurus, so here is what you all have been waiting for...homemade recipes for girl scout cookies! When I saw this, I knew I had to try making them. I told my friend Donna about them and she has been dying to see the recipes, so this is for her.


First I started with making the Trefoils and let me tell you, they taste JUST like the cookies in the orange box! My next project will be the Samoas. Below is the link to all cookie recipes that I found on Shine from Yahoo! Enjoy! Let me know how they come out : )


Homemade Girl Scout Cookie Recipes on Shine


I will post pictures once I make them.


Stay tuned to my Valentines Day menu ....Love is in the airrrrr : )

SUPER BOWL SUNDAYYY!!! And your touchdown menu is here!

Okay football cookers, I have prepared for you a jammin menu for Superbowl Sunday. My boyfriend LOVES football and I have learned to embrace and love the sport too, so I'm looking forward to this big Sunday, to cook of course ; ).


Alrighty, so here we go, let's get to the food. I've prepared a menu with a bunch of easy pickys that are family recipes and trust me you will LOVE them. Blue 42, Blue 42,  HIKE....
(***Pictures will follow on Sunday***)


First down, Yay!!!:
Texas Caviar (no not fish eggs)


This is a fabulous dip and its healthy. Its sweet, tangy and salty and will wild your taste buds.


Ingredients:
1 can of corn drained
1 can of black beans drained
1 can of black eyed peas drained
1 4oz jar of pimentos (or one or two roasted red peppers chopped)
3-4 or more jalapenos from the jar chopped
3 stalks of celery chopped
1 medium red onion diced


For the sauce:
1/2 cup sugar
2/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup oil


Directions:
Tip: Make sure you have two large, no-leak zip lock bags. You can make this the day before. It will taste better and less work!


First open and drain the beans and corn and add them to a colander. Rise the beans a corn. Next diced and chop the rest of the ingredients: jalapenos, pimentos (or roasted red peppers), celery and red onion. Then add this to the large zip lock bags (make sure you put on within another, it saves from leakage).  Now start adding the beans and corn to the zip lock bag. Once everyone is in the bag, you can now work on your sauce. In a microwaveable bowl, combine sugar, apple cider vinegar and oil. Microwave this for 45 seconds or until the sugar is dissolved. When sugar is dissolved, pour mixture into zip lock bag with all the beans, etc. Zip tight, and start to smoosh around the sauce so it hit every bean, etc. Set in the fridge and serve the next day!


First down, on the 50 yard line:

Loaded and Easy Potato Skins


Great finger food!


Ingredients:
8 Large baking potatoes
1 package of cheddar cheese
Crispy bacon, cooked
I bunch of scallions chopped
1 can of sour cream
Oil cooking spray
Salt/pepper


Tip: You can get creative here, use whatever toppings you would like. These are just my favorites : )


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.


First wash the potatoes and poke some wholes in them. Place whole potatoes in the oven and
let bake for about an hour. Take out and let cool.


Once they have cooled, cut potatoes in half inch circle slices (Do not make them in to fries for this recipe. They act liek little plates for the yummy toppings). Next, place them on a  greased cooking sheet. Now top them with the cooked and crispy bacon and cheese. Bake them for about 7 minutes until they are lightly crisped and cheese melted. Top with scallions, sour cream and EAT UP! They are the perfect bit size loaded potatoes.


Side note! You can substitute any of these toppings with some chili. then add the bacon cheese, etc.  Be creative : ).



First down and 20 yards away:
Yummy Bacon Sticks


Bacon lovers....you will LOVEEEEEEE these.


Ingredients:
1 lb. bacon
1 package of Stella Dora bread sticks


Directions:
This is aquick and easy recipe and this what you have to do. First line a baking sheet with tin foil. Next, take a single bread stick and wrap it with bacon. The whole stick should be covered. Then repeat until your out of bacon!!! Preheat overn to 350 and let bake for 30 mins or until bacon is crispy. Then eat up!!!!! Yum yum yum.



First down and 10 yards to go!!!:

Boneless BBQ Chicken Tenders with Bleu n' Spicy Cheese Dip


Ingredients:
For the dip:

2/3 cup reduced-fat sour cream

2/3 cup crumbled blue cheese

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Chicken Tenders:

1 cup Sweet Baby Rays barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons of honey

1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups of dry breadcrumbs (You can use whole wheat ones too, I would prefer this)

Cooking spray

Tip: If you need to use gluten free product to replace the rbead crumbs, you may use gluten free crackers or there are bread crumb brands that are specifically for gluten free.

Directions:

Start by combining the barbecue sauce, mustard and honey in a large bowl.  If you need to, cut any large chicken tenders in half lengthwise, so they are easier to eat. Add all the tenders to the large bowl with the sauce you just prepared and now use those hands and coat all of the tenders. Marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450. Coat a large baking sheet with some cooking spray.

In a small bowl combine flour, salt and pepper. Then lightly beat eggs in another small bowl. Place breadcrumbs on a small plate (I use a paper plate, easier to clean!). Now, coat each tender in flour, dip in egg, then roll in the breadcrumbs, shaking off any excess. Place the tenders on the oiled and greased baking sheet and then repeat. Generously coat both sides of each tender with cooking spray.

Bake for 10 minutes. After 10 mins, turn each tender over and continue baking for another 10 until the outside is crispy and the tenders are cooked through. FInally you serve this up!! If you do not like Bleu cheese dip then you can make a barbacue sauce with honey, dijon mustard, Sweet Baby Rays, salt and pepper and there you go!!!

Second down with 5 yards to go! They are going for it!!!:
Finger Lickin' Winter Ribs

Ingredients:
2 Racks of ribs
1 Bottle of Baby Rays Barbacue
Salt/pepper
Galic powder

Directions:
Cut a rather large piece of tin foil that will be able to cover all of the ribs and place this in a baking dish. Cut them in half, they work easier this way. So in the end you will have 4 tin foil wrapped packages of yummy goodness.

Prepare the ribs in the tin foil by rubbing salt, pepper and garlic powder all over the back and front of the ribs. Rub it goooddd!!! And use a generous amount of each ingredient. After rubbing the ribs with love, now slather the ribs with Sweet Baby Rays! Use enough to coat all of the outside of the rib. Before you seal the tin foil, add a bit more barbacue sauce on the top and finally close tight. I will look like a candy wrapper : )
Now here is the key, you need to let these cook at 250 degrees for 3 hours.They will fall off the bone because you slow cooked them! Then right before serving, pop them under the broiler for about 8 minutes. Add a bit more sauce before serving and BOYYYY your in for a treat!!!!!!
Goo Goo Goo!! And itsss a ......
TOUCH DOWN!!!:
Mac and Cheezy made easy!Last but not least.... yummy mac and cheese. Who doesn't love mac and cheese. I figured instead of chili, this would be a great alternative.
Ingredients:
1-2 pounds of classic elbows
1 quart (plus one more quart of you were using 2 pounds) of milk
1/4 cup of flour
5 (I would do 8 for two pounds of pasta) tablespoons of butter
5 cups (or 10 cups) of cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon of dijon mustard
Salt/Pepper to taste
2/3 cup of bread crumbs
Tip: You can add  your favorite veggie to this too, only if you would like to be somewhat healthy ; )

Directions:
Preheat over at 375.

Make sure you have a greased baking pan ready for the cheesy goodness.
First boil the pasta in salted water. Test them until they are cooked but firm, just before al dente. In a medium sauce pan, warm the milk. In a larger sauce pan on medium heat, melt the butter. Now sprinkle the flour into the butter and thoroughly cook the flour by stirring it constantly. When thick and smooth, slowly add the warm mile while stiring or whisking it in the butter/flour mixture. Now add in the cheese and constantly stir until melted. Add the dijon mustard, salt and pepper and stir until everything is incorporated and melted.

Finally, pour pasta into greased baking dish, then pour the cheesy sauce over the pasta and now add the bread crumbs. Sprinkle them evenly over the pasta. Bake for about 35 minutes or until bread crumbs are brown andddd TOUCH DOWNN!!!!! 

      What a touchdown!! : ) : )
Now you have all these recipes to create your touchdown menu!!! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know if you make any of the recipes, would love to hear feedback. P.S. Pictures will follow, definitely making these for superbowl.

Now grab your utensils and get eating!!! Be safe this weekend and enjoy : ) Ciao!

Another snow day! Yay FOODDDD

Alright cookers, so more snow days for me in the past two days! Crazy I know! Well, I definitely cooked up a storm and made a lot of good food. Some stuffed pepper, banana bread, veggie salad and HOMEMADE PIZZA. What I want to share with you, before I give you a whole menu for SUPERBOWL SUNDAY, is a recipe for pizza dough. I never made dough in my life, and being Italian that's a disgrace! So I found a fabulous recipe from my idol Giada on food network. LOVE HER!!


Here is the recipe for this amazing dough!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups warm water, you may need a little extra but start with this

1 packet active dry yeast

5 cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoons salt you may add a little more

Olive oil for after kneading and setting to rise

Directions:


Tip: So I used my kitchen aide mixer that has a dough handle on it and this worked really well, but you can use a whisk and your best two tools your HANDS! : )

Pour the hot water in a bowl. Add the yeast and whisk the yeast until it dissolves. In another bowl, combine the flour and salt. Now add all wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and USE THOSE HANDS! Start to fold the yeast water into the flour and a dough will begin to form. Now if you were using a mixer, just watch the dough unitl it is all corporated. If the dough is too dry, add a little extra water, 1 tablespoon at a time. If the dough is too sticky, add extra flour, and again 1 tablespoon at a time. Now prepare a floured work surface. With floured HANDS, knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, about 10 to 12 minutes, you will honestly know when it is ready promise : ).  Now knead into a ball and place inside a clean bowl with olive oil. Put the dough in the bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel. Set the bowl in a warm, draft-free place. Now go do some chores until the dough has doubled in size, about 2 hours.

Now deflate the dough in the center by using your hands and cut it into how ever many pizzas you want to make equal in size. Again, place doughs into an oiled bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp kitchen towel and let rest for 1 hour. Finally! With a rolling pin and you hands and alot of four in your work station, roll out the dough to fit onto a greased metal pan and decorate that pizza!!! I did bacon, garlic and onion with a little oil and OMG amazing : ). Buon Appetito!


Let me know how you did, any questions? Email me, facebook me or @twitter!