Tangy Almond Chicken Kabobs

PREP 20 mins Cook 10 Min Ready In 1 hr 30 Mins 16 Kabobs

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – cubed (We used two.  It made five

1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds                                Kabobs)

16 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for 20 minutes

Directions

1.  In a medium, nonreactive bowl, blend Dijon mustard, honey, vegetable oil, and lemon juice. Place chicken in the mixture, stirring to coat. Cover, and, turning occasionally, allow to marinate in the refrigerator at least 1 hour.

2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil grate. Soak wooden skewers in water for about 20 minutes.

3. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade. Arrange on the prepared grill, and cook 7 to 10 minutes, until no longer pink and juices run clear.

4. Remove skewers from heat, and quickly roll in the almonds to lightly coat chicken.

This was good.  We had a vegetable and side dish to go along with this but they did not turn out.

Carol's Arroz Con Pollo

Prep 15 mins Cook 30 mins Ready In 45 mins 4 Servings

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

3/4 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 cup long-grain white rice

1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth

1/2 cup white wine

1/8 teaspoon saffron

1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

We added a ½ pound mushrooms. 

Directions

1. Cut each breast into 1 inch pieces. Sprinkle chicken with a 1/4 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and paprika.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken, and cook until golden. Remove chicken, and set aside.

3. Add green pepper, onions, and garlic to oil in skillet. Cook for 5 minutes. Add rice; cook and stir until rice is opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in broth, white wine, saffron, and tomatoes. Stir in remaining salt, pepper, and paprika. Return to a boil. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.

4. Return chicken to the skillet, and cook to reheat. Stir in parsley.

This was a good dish.  We were glad that we added the mushrooms.  The dish would not have passed mustered if we had not.

Christmas Seafood Casserole

Ready in 50 Mins.  4 servings

3 tablespoons butter

1 cup chopped onions

1 1/2 cups chopped celery

2 1/2 cups milk

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons butter

4 ounces Cheddar cheese, sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 pound crabmeat

1/4 pound lobster meat (Did not use)

1/4 pound medium shrimp

1/4 pound scallops

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.

2. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet, and saute the onions and celery until tender.

3. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat, and mix in the flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons butter until well blended. Gradually blend the cheese into the mixture. Season with salt and pepper.

4. In a medium bowl, mix the onions and celery with the cheese sauce mixture. Toss in the crabmeat, lobster, shrimp, and scallops. Transfer to the prepared baking dish.

5. Bake uncovered in the preheated oven 25 minutes, or until the seafood is opaque and the surface is lightly browned.

This was good.  The sauce needed to be thickened.  It was a little runny.

Lettuce, Avocado and Sunflower Seed Salad

Prep 15 mins Ready In  15 mins 4 Servings

1/2 cup olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

2 heads Bibb lettuce - rinsed, dried and torn

1/3 cup sun flower seeds

2 avocados - peeled, pitted and sliced

Directions

1. Whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, garlic and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

2. In a salad bowl, combine the lettuce and sunflower seeds. Toss with enough dressing to coat. Top with sliced avocado and serve.

This was good had it with the Christmas casserole.

Caramel Nut Crunch

PREP 15 mins Cook 30 Mins Ready in 45 mins Serves 16

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 cups Cheerios® cereal

1 cup pecan halves

1 cup walnut halves

1 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts

1 cup whole un blanched almonds

Directions

1. In a saucepan, heat the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt over medium heat for 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly.

2. In a large heatproof bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Pour hot syrup over cereal mixture; stir until well coated. Spread into greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes or until crisp, stirring every 10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack until slightly firm.

This turned out to be really good.  Better than the peanut brittle that I tried to make.

I am making dinner for a family that just had their fourth child.  Going to make them tuna casserole.  Something easy.

I have to work this Saturday.  Going to my sister’s house on Sunday. 

I have to work again at Fred Meyer on the fifth of April.  I guess in May they will have a full time person there.  They will have to work the whole weekend so, I am glad it is not me.  The person will be on their own.  They will not have much support.  I don’t think that I would care for that too much.  Once in a while you have trouble.

Had to take Honey to the vet.  They did an ultrasound.  Found out that one of her intestines is kind of thick.  She keeps throwing up.  She has started loosing weight.  They have put her on a new food.  Giving her prednisone and an antibiotic to word off infection.  She likes the food.  That’s a plus.

Dan is going on a trip with his mother at the end of July.  They are going to Montana.  I hope that she treats him better than the last time we went on a trip with her.  She wasn’t very nice.  I  have decided I will not go on any more trips with her.  I know that sooner or later she will say something nasty about Dan and then she will hear from me. 

On the bright side I will have the house by myself for five days!!.  I honestly hope that they have fun.  Perhaps his relationship with his Mom will be better.

Cuban Midnight Sandwich

PREP 20 mins Cook 5 min Ready in 25 min Serves 4

 1 cup mayonnaise

5 tablespoons Italian dressing

4 hoagie rolls, split lengthwise

4 tablespoons prepared mustard

1/2 pound thinly sliced deli turkey meat

1/2 pound thinly sliced cooked ham

1/2 pound thinly sliced Swiss cheese

1 cup dill pickle slices

1/2 cup olive oil

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and Italian dressing. Spread mixture on hoagie rolls. Spread each roll with mustard. On each roll, arrange layers of turkey, ham, and cheese. Top each with dill pickle slices. Close sandwiches, and brush tops and bottoms with olive oil.

2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium high heat. Place sandwiches in skillet. Cook sandwiches for 2 minutes, pressing down with a plate covered with aluminum foil. Flip, and cook for 2 more minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from heat, place on plates, and cut in half diagonally.

This was really good!!

I took the 166 to Renton I wanted to have another rout instead of the 140.  This rout takes one hour and ninety minutes.  Way to long.  I wanted to have more than one way to get out of Renton incase there was an emergency.  I found out that next year there will be a new bus line.  This is called the rapid ride.  I found out that it will take the same rout as the 140 did.  I was worried about getting to the Sams Club. 

We went to pizza hut for lunch on my birthday.  It was tasty.  In Auburn the pizza hut has a couple of tables.  Most of the pizza huts are take out only.  My day was quiet and nice.  It was good having Dan home on my Birthday!!

I am working all this weekend. 

Easy Cheddar Biscuits with Fresh Herbs

Ready in 30 minutes

16 biscuits

2 1/4 cups all-purpose baking mix

1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/3 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, stir together baking mix, cheese, and rosemary.

3. In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream, mustard, and milk. Stir wet mixture into dry mixture until well combined. Drop dough in 2-inch rounds onto a baking sheet. Brush tops with beaten egg.

4. Bake in preheated oven 12 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

This was really good and I don’t like rosemary.  Usually rosemary is too woody.  I used fresh and was able to break it up better.

It has finally happened!! I had to stop reading a Charles Dickens book. American Notes.  I am a huge Dickens fan but this was awful.  I like stories not narration.

Sent my birthday list off to Jewels.   Gave her plenty of books and CDs.  Went to the in-laws on Saturday.  Don was sick.  I think that he got food poison.  He was sicker than a dog. 

I think that for my Birthday we are going to go out to lunch. Dan wants to get the taxes done.  Then we can go and find some place to eat.  We don’t go to Auburn very often so it will be interesting what we find. 

He will go and see Mr. Bill.  It sounds like his health has gotten better.  He has lost a lot of weight. I can’t wait to find out what he looks like now!!  I am so glad for hem because he was doing really bad there for a while.   

Chunky Beef Noodle Soup

Prep: 20 min. Cook: 1 hour 40 min. Serves 8

 Ingredients

•1 pound boneless round steak, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I used pork)

•1 medium onion, chopped

•2 garlic cloves, minced

•1 tablespoon vegetable oil

•2 cups water

•1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained

•1 can (10-1/2 ounces) condensed beef consomme, undiluted

•1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder (I used 1tesp)

•1 teaspoon salt

•1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

•1 cup uncooked spiral pasta

•1 medium green pepper, chopped (I did not use the pepper)

•1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

 Directions

•In a large saucepan, cook the steak, onion and garlic in oil for 5 minutes or until meat is browned and onion is tender.

 • Stir in the water, tomatoes, consomme and seasonings; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/2 hours or until meat is tender.

 • Stir in pasta and green pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until pasta is tender. Add parsley.

This recipe was very good.  It did not make as much as we thought it would.  Was hoping for two days worth.  Not sure why it did not make as much.

My back is doing better.  I am hoping to start walking again next week. 
Dan is taking my Birthday off and Monday.  Not sure still where I want to go for dinner.  I would like to try something new.

Not working this weekend.  I will have to work all of next weekend.  That’s ok.  Getting my Birthday weekend off is wonderful.  Katie and I are celebrating out Birthdays together on Easter.  I hope that she passed her big test.  She has been slammed since she started nursing school.  I am glad that it is her instead of me.  I have no interest in going back to school.

May go down to the in-laws not sure.

Mom is doing better.  I will be talking to her today.

Breakfast Casserole

 8 Servings

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 (16 ounce) container sour cream

1 (2 pound) package frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

1 cup cubed, cooked chicken meat

1 cup diced ham

1 onion, chopped

3/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1 cup crushed potato chips

1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Combine undiluted soup, sour cream, hash browns, cubed chicken and ham, onions, and cheese. Pour into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch pan.

2. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Top with crumbs, and drizzle with melted butter or margarine. Bake for another 15 minutes.

This recipe would be good with Italian sausage.  Dark chicken meat would be better than breast of chicken.

Fell down on Saturday.  Messed up my back and fell on my bad arm.  Thought about canceling my demos this week but, I think that I can handle it.

Fred Meyer was fun but tiring.  They don’t have mats for you to stand on. Besides my falling, I think, that is another reason that my back is bothering me.  I don’t think that I will be doing Fred Meyer any more.  They want you to cook and I don’t feel comfortable doing that by myself.  I have one more demo to do and that is this Friday.  3/15 4:00 to 8:00pm.  Last Friday I was tired and then I had to work the next day!!!

TOMATO, SHRIMP & CHEESE PIE

FILLING:

1 1/2 lbs. Medium  shrimp cooked

4 tomatoes

1 whole egg

2 egg yolks

2 tbsp. basil

3 tbsp. chives

1/4 lb. butter

3/4 c. mayonnaise

2 green peppers, chopped

1/2 chopped onion

4 oz. Monterey jack  grated cheese

12 oz. Swiss cheese grated

1/2 c. chopped parsley

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

Salt & pepper

2 9 inch unbaked pie shells

Topping :

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

14 Teaspoon paprika

Beat mayonnaise, egg, egg yolks and cheese.  Cut shrimp into large chunks.  Add shrimp and tomatoes to chees mixture.

Sauté onion and peppers in butter.  Add salt, pepper, garlic, basil, parsley and chives.  Add to cheese shrimp mixture. Divide between 2 unbaked pie shells.

 Blend topping ingredients; sprinkle on top of pies.

Bake in preheated 450 degree oven 10 minutes; reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking 40 to 45 minutes

I had to tweak this recipe to make it more like the one I did.  This was very good!!!  I love shrimp!! 

Dan was rather tired yesterday.  I think that he needs to go down to Mr. Bill’s and get himself some new bank notes.  He hasn’t done that in a while.  He has had too many days where he has had fifteen people or more to take to court.  I think that he is getting burned outL  I try to be as encouraging as I can but I can only do so much.

Raspberry Barbecue Wings

Prep: 15 min. + chilling Bake: 50 min. Serves 10

 Ingredients

•2/3 cup barbecue sauce

•2/3 cup seedless raspberry jam

•3 tablespoons finely chopped onion

•1 to 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped (I did not use the pepper)

•2 teaspoons minced garlic, divided

•2 teaspoons Liquid Smoke, optional, divided

•1/4 teaspoon salt

•15 chicken wings (about 3 pounds)

•1 small onion, sliced

•1 cup water

 Directions

•In a small bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, jam, chopped onion, peppers, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon Liquid Smoke if desired and salt; mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

 • Cut chicken wings into three sections; discard wing tip section. Place the chicken wings in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Top with sliced onion and remaining garlic. Combine the water and remaining Liquid Smoke if desired; pour over wings. Cover and bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until juices run clear.

  • Transfer wings to a greased broiler pan; brush with sauce. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 20-25 minutes, turning and basting every 5 minutes or until wings are well coated. Yield: 2-1/2 dozen.

This was very good.  I used chicken legs and thighs.  I think that you could omit the water and liquid smoke.  I also did not broil the wings.  I think that next time I will bake the chicken just with the sauce.

Great Green Salad

 4 servings

4 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 pinch white sugar

1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cubed

4 cups mixed salad greens

1/2 cup sliced almonds

2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white wine vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, sugar, parsley, lemon juice and garlic. Add the avocado, and stir to coat with the dressing.

2. Just before serving, add the salad greens, and toss to coat with dressing. Sprinkle sliced almonds and feta cheese over the top.

This was an easy salad to make.  We loved the dressing and the avocado was a nice addition.

I have two demos at the Fred Meyer.  I am very excited about them both.  This Friday is the new Ten.  Next week will be Frito Lay.  I have not looked at the demo information.  I don’t like to look to far ahead on these demos because it makes me anxious.

I was sick last week with a cold.  I was glad that I did not have to work.  I had no energy.