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.