Spicy Maple Glazed Chicken

1 LB chicken breast tenderloins (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts)

2 tsp of Montreal steak seasoning (spicy or regular)

1/4 cup maple syrup, plus 2 TB for finishing

1/2 cup sliced green onions

In a large zip top bag, combine maple syrup and seasoning.  Drop in chicken tenders and coat.  Marinate for 1-4 hrs before cooking.  Heat a little canola oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink and internal temp is 170 degrees.  Remove chicken from skillet.  Heat finishing syrup and green onions until just warm and serve over chicken.

Breakfast Burritos

These freeze decently, but really need a very airtight bags.   I have made a huge pile of them and frozen them for breakfasts during the next couple of weeks.

Whole wheat or vegetable tortillas

Red & yellow peppers

Yellow onion

White button mushrooms

Box of frozen spinach (thawed and drained)

Salsa

Cheddar cheese

Eggs

Sausage or bacon

Dice all the vegetables you want to use.  Saute vegetables.  Saute meat.  Scramble eggs and mix in vegetables and meat.  Heat tortillas so they are pliable.  Put cheese in the center, put in some of the egg/vegetable/meat mixture.  Roll tortillas.  Either serve immediately or freeze.

Walnut and Dried Fruit Bars

12 bars, serving size: 1 bar

Ingredients

  • 1 cup quick-cooking oats
  • 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour or regular whole-wheat flour
  • 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (make your own the day before)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 egg, beaten to mix
  • 1 egg white
  • 3/4 cup chopped dried tart cherries (or other dried fruit)
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • Cooking spray
  • 1/4 cup apricot preserves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, wheat germ, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together the honey, applesauce, oil, egg and egg white until well combined. Stir in the oatmeal mixture until well combined. Add the dried cherries and walnuts.

Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out

clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Put the preserves in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, brush with the preserves. Cool completely and cut into 12 bars, about 4 by1 1/2 inches each.

Au Gratin Potatoes, Ham & Broccoli Casserole

For this recipe I use two boxes of store bought au gratin potatoes, a bag of frozen broccoli and a ham steak that I’ve diced.  I mix everything together in a casserole pan and bake for 45 minutes at 450 degrees.  The boxes of au gratin potatoes call for a lot of water, milk and butter.  I only use what is called for using one box plus a 1/2 cup of milk because the ham and broccoli give off some much of their own water while cooking.  The first time I made this I used the amounts called for and we ended up with a very soupy casserole.

Jalapeno Poppers (Baked)

Ingredients:

12 large jalapeno peppers
6 ounces cream cheese, softened
6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese or Monterrey Jack
1/4 cup (packed) finely chopped cilantro leaves
1/8 teaspoon salt
Bread crumbs or Parmesan cheese, optional

Instructions:

1. If you have sensitive hands, wear protective rubber or plastic gloves, slice jalapenos in half lengthwise and remove the ribs and seeds (this is where the majority of the heat of a jalapeno resides).

2. In a mixing bowl, beat the cheeses, cilantro and salt until creamy. Spread into halved peppers.  Dip the tops of the peppers (the open cheese-stuffed side) in bread crumbs or grated Parmesan cheese.

3. Place peppers cheese stuffing up on a foil lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until hot and lightly browned on top.

Tamale Pie Casserole

1 1/2 lb hamburger

1 med. onion sliced

2 cups canned stewed tomatoes

1 sm. can of tomato sauce

2 cups corn

1 cups sliced black olives

1 t salt

1/4 t pepper

1 T chili powder

1 garlic clove

1/4 cup green pepper chopped

Topping:

1 1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cornmeal

2 T butter

1 t salt

2 beaten eggs

1 cup shredded cheese

Brown hamburger and onion.  Add tomatoes, sauce, corn, olives, green pepper and seasonings and cook for about 20 minutes.  Pour into well greased x12 inch baking dish.  Topping:  Mix the milk, cornmeal, butter and salt, cook until thick.  Add the eggs and cheese.  Mix well and pour over meat mixture.  Bake until top is browned.  350 degrees for 45 to 1 hour.

Broccoli-Potato Soup w/ Greens

2 medium potatoes, chopped

14 oz can of chicken broth

3 cups broccoli florets, bite-sized

2 cups milk

3 T flour

2 cups smoked Gouda, shredded

2 cups greens (curly endive, chicory, escarole, spinach)

Additional gouda, shredded

1.  Combine potatoes, broth.  Bring to boil and reduce heat.  Simmer covered 8 minutes.  Mash slightly.  Add broccoli and milk, bring to just a simmer.

2 In a bowl toss flour w/ cheese.  Gradually add to soup, stirring until melted.  Season to taste with salt & pepper.  Divide amongst bowls and serve with greens and additional cheese.

Weekly Menu #4

Monday:  B:  out, L: out, Dinner:  Sausage, peppers, onions over rice.  Ice cream.

Tuesday:  B:  Cereal and yogurt.  L:  Daddy ham sandwich, fruit cup, chips, cookies, seltzer.  John & Andrea grilled cheese, fruit, cookie, milk.  Dinner:  Easy Paella.

Wednesday:  B:  Cereal & yogurt.  L:  Daddy…same as above.  John & Andrea mac n’ cheese, fruit & veggies, cookie, milk.  Dinner:  Meatball Souvlaki, greek yogurt, pitas, roasted veggies.

Thursday:  B:  Cereal & yogurt.  L:  Daddy…same as above.  John & Andrea hot dog, fruit & veggies, cookie, milk.  Dinner:pork chops, stuffing, broccoli.

Friday:  B:  Cereal & yogurt.  L:  Daddy…same as above.  John & Andrea grilled cheese, fruit, cookie & milk.  Dinner: Stuffed clams, rice, salad.

Saturday:  B:  Scrambled eggs.

Easy Paella

1 box of yellow rice (or yellow saffron rice)

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can black beans (drained & rinsed)

2 tsp garlic powder

2-3 links of cooked breakfast sausage, cut into rounds (other sausage will work just fine too)

10-12 shrimp (shelled & cooked)

Any leftover veggies sitting in the fridge (roasted onion, broccoli, red peppers etc.)

Cook the rice, add the rest of the ingredients and warm until everything is heated through.