Chicken breast w/roasted red peppers and red wine

I made this for my Sister for lunch today, so I thought I would share. Not sure why I am posting the picture because my phone takes bad pictures but here it is for what it is worth.

Chicken Breast (cut open like a book)
Roasted Red Peppers (sliced)
Onion sliced
Fresh Spinach
Red Wine ( get a glass for you)

make sure your chicken is room temp
Season your Chicken with your fav seasoning ( I use salt free)
Heat skillet on med-high heat.
Add oil
add sliced onions to pan and cook until kind of limp, move to the side of pan and add Chicken. Leave the chicken be its cooking lol Add the Red Peppers. Turn the chicken when brown on one side and you can see it cooking on its way up to the top. (damn me I never measure or time nothin)
After you have turned chicken give it a couple of minutes to brown and cook, then deglaze the pan with some red wine. (Pour yourself some too) turn down to med and cover for a minute or two. I really am sorry I didn't time this. Your chicken should be done. remove chicken from pan and add spinach and a little more wine. If you are drinking the wine while you are cooking this shortly you won't give a shit that I didn't give you really good directions. When the spinach is wilted remove from pan and place it on your plate. Place the Chicken ontop of wilted greens and peppers. Turn pan to low and add more wine deglaze again and add a small pat of butter to thicken and gloss up the sauce. Pour this over the top of your chicken.
I sure hope this made sense. If not you could hire me to cook it or you lol
I served this with Brown Basmati Rice.
If you want this on a salad? Put your salad greens in a bowl,slice the chicken after it has rested. Place the peppers onions and spinach on top of sald. Slice the chicken and lay it on top. Sprinkle with a hand full of craisins. Yes I said craisins. Use Marzettis honey mustard salad dressing. This sounds bizarre but it is fabulous!
Enjoy!

Don't throw those Butter wrappers away

This time of year you are going through tons of butter and margarine. When you unwrap the sticks there is always a little reside left over especially if it is room temp butter. Stick them in a ziplock bag and toss in the fridge. When you need to grease a cake pan or a cookie sheet, pull them out and use them. You will be surprised how much stuff is left on them.

Brie en Croute

This is really easy and a great crowd pleaser.
pre-heat to 400
You will need:
1/2 of a Pkg Pepperidge Farm puff pastry. You will find this in the frozen section usually
1 8 oz wheel of Brie
1 egg
1 tablespoon water

Thaw your pastry at room temp. Open pkg and place pastry on a lightly floured surface. slightly roll out until it is about a 14 inch square. You can cut the corners off if it is easier for you to wrap up
Place your cheese round in the center. Fold the pastry over the cheese to make a package. Seal as well as you can. Cut off excess and save. Mix egg and water and brush over the seam. Place seam side down on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. You can use the excess to make leaves or a bow or something for decoration on the top. glue them on with egg mixture. Then brush entire thing with egg mixture.
Bake in 400 degree oven for aprox 25 minutes until golden brown
Let stand for about 20 minutes before serving.
Serve with crackers, crusty toasts, little breads and sliced apples. if you are doin apples toss in a little bit of lemon juice first
There are so many variations of this. it is endless. Here are some Ideas of what you can add before placeing the cheese on the pastry.
Jam or preserves.
Dried fruit and nuts (soften fruit in warm water first)
Brown sugar and nuts
Use your imagination. the combinations are endless
Enjoy!

Easy Cheesy Potatoes

This is really easy and everyone will love it!

Pre-heat to 350

1 can Cream of Chicken soup
1 Pint Sour Cream
1 Stick Butter or marg melted (reserve 1/4 for top)
1 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese (shredded)
2 teaspoons salt ( you can omit or alter this to taste)

2lb Frozen Hash Browns (not the shredded ones) Ore Ida country style the bag is 2lbs
1 cup Chopped Onions
1/2 Cup Crushed Corn Flakes

Mix soup,sour cream, butter, cheese and salt in large bowl. Add potatoes and onions. Mix well.
Spread in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle top with corn flakes and drizzle the remaining butter over top.
Bake for 1 hour

Mini Cheesecakes

These are so quick and easy and very tasty. Great to make ahead for a party.
Pre-heat oven to 325

24 cup cake liners. Plain paper if using cup cake pan or foil ones if you have no cupcake pan. I use foil ones that have papers inside and place them on a cookie sheet. This way I dont mess them up getting them out of pan.

24 vanilla wafers
3 (8 oz) packages of cream cheese. (I use neufchatel which is 1/3 less fat) softened
1 Cup Sugar
3 Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Beat softened cream cheese and sugar until smooth...beat in 1 egg at a time until smooth and creamy. Stir in vanilla
Place 1 Vanilla Wafer in bottom of each cup
Fill 2/3 with cheese mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes or until set
Cool.
If you want you can use fresh fruit or pie filling of your choice to top them with or just leave them plain. If using pie filling...after they are cool, drop a spoonful on top and refrigerate for 3 HOURS. If using fresh berries refrigerate first and add berries before serving. Store covered in fridge until ready to eat
ENJOY!

Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies

These are sooo good and so easy. The kids can make them.

Pre-heat 350 degrees

2 Cups Peanut Butter (creamy or chunky)
2 Cups Sugar
2 Eggs

Yes this is really all you need. You can cut this in half if you only want 12 cookies.
Mix Pnut Butter until creamy and add sugar and egg and mix well
Roll into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheet.
With a fork dipped in sugar push down on cookie to flatten and make that famous criss cross of pnut butter cookies
Bake 8-10 minutes
Let cool a bit before removing from pan.
ENJOY!!!!

The Best Oatmeal Cookies ever

I love Oatmeal Cookies and someone made these for me once and I loved them so much I stole the recipe. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Pre-heat oven to 375
3 Cups Oats
1 Cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon ( I use 1/2)
3/4 Cup Butter Flavored Crisco (do not substitute with anything)
11/4 Cup packed Brown Sugar
11/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 Egg
1 Cup of chopped Walnuts (or nut of your choice)
1 Cup Raisins (or craisins)
Parchment paper

Mix all dry ingredients in separate bowl, set aside

Cream Butter, Sugar until creamy. Add Egg and Vanilla.
Slowly Add dry ingredients to wet.
Mix until all combined
Spoon onto cookie sheet lined with parchment (easy clean up)
Cook approx 10 minutes
Enjoy!

Pecan Bars

These are so heavenly! Makes my mouth water just thinking about them.

You will need 13x9x2 pan  Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

CRUST

11/2 Cup Flour
1/2 Cup Butter (1 stick) Softened
1/4 Cup packed Brown Sugar

Mix until crumbly. pat it down in bottom of pan. Bake for 12-15 min until light brown

FILLING

3 lg Eggs
3/4 Cup Corn Syrup
3/4 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons melted Butter (cooled)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/2 Cup coursely chopped Pecans

Beat eggs, sugar and syrup until smooth add butter, vanilla and pecans and beat until blended.
Pour over cooked crust and bake 25-30 minutes until set.
Let cool and cut into squares.
They are very rich so I wouldnt cut those squares too big.
Enjoy!

Making your Home smell like the HOLIDAYS

You can either use a small pot or a crock pot for this. Put some water in the vessel, whichever you choose and add some cloves, cinnamon sticks, vanilla and some orange rinds if you have them.
Turn on low and let the smells begin.
If using a pot on the stove make sure you check it to make sure your water doesnt evaporate

Christmas ornaments

Her is a recipe for ornaments you can make with the kids and have them for a million years. I made some over 30 yrs ago and still have them. Great gifts too. You can write on the back of them.
1/2 cup table salt
1 cup flour
1/2 cup water
wooden stick or something to make hole at top to put string or ribbon in
String, ribbon or thread
Paint or markers
Shellac

mix all together and when mixed knead it for 7-10 minutes
Roll out on a well floured surface about 1/4" thick. Use Cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Make sure you put a small hole at top so you can hang them.
Bake in 200 degree oven for 4-6 hours
When they come out let them cool.
If you have some rough edges you can use a fine sandpaper to remove them.
When that is all done paint or color them.
When dry shellac them.
Hang with string
I never shellaced mine and I lost a few from moisture. If you want to keep them I would do this.
Have fun!

Homemade HOT COCOA MIX

Here is a great way to make sure you always have something to keep you warm on those cold days/nights.
This also is a great gift for the holidays. Just place the mix in a sealed jar. Make a little tag that says "Hot Cocoa Mix" use 1/3 cup mix, add hot water. Tie on with a ribbon.
You can also add a little bag of marshmallows and some cookies. People with kids will love this.
You will need a big bowl to mix it in

14 qt. box Carnation dry milk
2 (11 oz.) jars Cremora or non dairy coffee creamer
2 lb. box Nestle's Quick
3 c. powdered sugar (1 box)

3/4 c. cocoa (depends on how chocolate you want it) dutch is best
Use 1/3 cup or more if needed to cup of hot water. Top with a dash of cinnamon & nutmeg.
Add marshmallows or whipped cream if desired.

I also heard you can add a lg box of instant choc pudding to make it thicker but I have never done this.

You can purchase all of these things at places like Sam's Club or Costco for bigger quantity

Mix all of this together in a large bowl with a wisk. make sure it is completely blended.

Keep in an airtight container.

ENJOY!

Yummy Dip

This dip is basically made by taste. Just like everything else I do no recipe needed.
This is great for veggies, crackers, chips especially Lay's BBQ
You will need:
Softend Neufchatel cheese (reduced fat cream cheese)
Lemon Juice
Onion powder
Lawrys seasoned salt

Make sure cream cheese is at room temp (easier to mix)
add about 2 teaspoons of lemon juice
approx 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
approx 1 teaspoon Lawrys
mix and taste
It should have that lemony kick but have that spicy salty from lawrys.
Play with it, Make it your own.
I am so much help aren't I? lol

Best Sweet Potatoes/Yams ever

Now that I have already told you there is NO such thing as a yam in the United States I will refer to these as sweet potatoes.
Heat oven to 250 drgrees
Wash and dry your sweet potaotes.(as many as you want)
Place 1 in the center of a piece of foil and put up sides and crimp shut at the top. Like a little boat.
Continue until all are wrapped.
Place in a cake pan or cookie sheet with an edge (do not use a sheet tray that is flat)
Put them in oven and leave them for a couple three  hours. You can't over cook them. the longer you leave them the better they are.
When you can use a kitchen towel to squeeze the package and it squishes they are done.
When you unwrap them there will be juice inside the foil so be careful.
let them cool a bit and unwrap the foil. slit the pototoes open and scoop the yummy flesh out and put it in a bowl. You can add the juice from the packets too. Now add a small amount of butter and kind of whip them up. They should be sweet and wonderful.
If you want you can add some brown sugar or agave syrup to make them sweeter.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!

Inside out Cheeseburgers

This is fun for the kids and can be quite delightful for the adults.

Ground meat of your choice
Cheese

Make your patties like you normally would but a bit thinner. You need to make 2 pattys per burger. Make sure there are no holes in your patties but don't over work it. over worked ground meat makes tough HOCKEY PUCKS. lol

Lay your patties down and put some cheese in the middle. Not a ton or it will seep out. For the kids use their favorite. Usually cheddar. For the adults try some blue cheese.
After you get your cheese in top, with the other patty and make it ONE. make sure the sides are sealed.
Grill like you usually would.
Let the imagination work here. If using swiss, saute some mushrooms and put those in. If using blue make some fried onions with some shallots dredged in flour and lightly fried. Top the burger with these when it is done. Like I said the combos are endless.
The best thing is you don't have to stand at the grill and wait for the perfect time to add the cheese.
I sure I make sense when explaining these things. Maybe santa will bring me a camera so I can show you what I am trying to explain. I am cooking it in my head as I type lol
Enjoy!

London Broil/Portabella sandwich

These are sooo yummy and a way to use left over meat or chicken

Ciabatta rolls
London Broil or Chicken
Portabella mushrooms
Basalmic vinegar
olive oil
Rosemary
Fontina Cheese grated or sliced thin
aluminum foil

Wipe your mushrooms clean and remove the underneath gills with a spoon (just scrape them out)
Slice mushrooms 1/4 inch thick.
Place on a baking sheet, drizzle with basalmic and olive oil, sprinkle with rosemary
Roast in a 400 degree oven until they are soft
Slice beef or chicken thin and pile it on a roll. Place mushrooms on top and top with the fontina. Close sandwich
Place sandwich on a piece of foil. and wrap it up like a little package.
Place in 350 oven for about 20 minutes. Might need a little longer.
Bread should be crunchy, meat hot and cheese yummy melted.
Play with this guys. Your imagination is the limit!
Enjoy

Need to measure Honey/karo syrup/molasses?

These sticky things are a real pain to measure and get out of your cups or spoons. Some might know this little trick but here goes.
Spray some of that non-stick spray in your measuring cup or spoons. Measure and pour. It comes right out.
Yippee!

Steel Cut Oats

If you have never tried these you should. They are easy to cook and very healthy. I buy them in bulk because if you buy them off the shelf they cost a fortune. You can toss them in a pot and jump in the shower and they will be ready when you are.

1 cup steel cut oats
3 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon of butter
1/2 cup Milk
Dried cranberries/blueberries/apricots/figs (this is optional) about a cup
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
Cinnamon to taste
chopped nuts (optional)
Place butter in large saucepan and toss in oats. Cook about 2 minutes stirring constantly to toast them up
Add your boiling water and reduce heat to a simmer (low) for 25 minutes DO NOT STIR
If you are adding dried fruit add it now.
At 25 minutes stir in milk, brown sugar & cinnamon. Cook an addition 10 minutes.
Top with some butter/margarine and chopped nuts
You may add more milk to your bowl if you like your cereal thinner.
If you have left overs, place in fridge and reheat them in micro with a little milk.
You can also cut the recipe in half if you are feeding just 1 or 2
If you are feeding an army, you can make these the night before in the crock pot and they will be warm and ready in the am. If you are going to do this you need to tweak the recipe a bit
Use 4 cups of water
1/2 cup half and half
if you are using dried fruit use a cup each of two of them like cranberries/fig or just as much as you would like.
Place all ingredients in cooker, cover, set on low heat and cook 8-9 hours
Do not add brown sugar until right before serving. Stir and add to bowls

These are chewy, yummy and very filling. Your energy for the morning.
Please try them. You will be surprised how good they are.
ENJOY!

Freezing food

Whenever you have made extra food you want to freeze, Use gallon freezer bags. That way you can stack them on top of each other in the freezer and it doesnt take up as much space as it would if you had used plastic containers. Make sure you write on your bags what it is and the date you froze it. You would be surprised at the things you can freeze that when thawed and reheated are the same as when you just cooked them.

Putting liquid in a plastic freezer bag

HA! this is always so much fun since the damn things never stay still. If you aren't careful you will have it everywhere. Here is an easy way...
Take your freezer bag and place it in a pitcher or a pot. something that is stable. Put your liquid in and it won't spill all over. Make sure you zip it closed well before removing it from whatever vesel you have used to hold it up.

Food stuck on your pots and pans?

So you have cooked that fabulous meal and now its time to wash the dishes. You have that burnt on stuff and you can scrub until you are blue in the face. Try taking some DISHWASHER soap and squirting/sprinkleing it on the pan and adding HOT water. let it sit for a little while and it should wash right out.
To avoid stuck on stuff on casserole dishes spray them with some of that non-stick stuff before adding your food.

Dental Floss in the kitchen

Yep that's what I said...DENTAL FLOSS. Go get some UNWAXED unflavored and toss it in the kitchen drawer.
Things to do with it:
Use in place of kitchen twine
Use it to cut goat cheese or any soft cheese that crumbles or squishes when you use a knife.
Cutting layers of cake. Use it like a saw and that layer now becomes 2 even ones
Cinnamon rolls. A knife will smash the dough. this doesnt change their shape.
Cutting cheesecake.
I know there are more uses but I am old so my brain needs to rest. lol I will add more later
Have Fun!