casseroles · Chicken · comfort food · Dinner · rice · Uncategorized

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

I saw this on Instagram from @momontimeout.  She has some amazing recipes.  I found this Cheesy Chicken Broccoli and Rice Casserole recipe on her website, and decided that we needed something comforting.

I modified it a bit…but these are the ingredients I used:

2 cups of Rotisserie Chicken – chunked
2 cups broccoli – frozen
2 cups cooked rice
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheese
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cups Ritz Crackers, crushed
1/4 cup of dried, chopped onions
2 teaspoons of unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9×13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.Mix all of the ingredients but the crackers, dried onion and butter.  Spread into the 9×13 pan.Sprinkle the crackers over the top, and drizzle the melted butter.Bake at 30-35 minutes until cooked through.Sprinkle with the cut parsley. Serve and enjoy.David’s plate, and he had seconds and thirds.My plate and I didn’t eat all of it, as it was warm, hearty and creamy. It is definitely more of a Fall or Winter meal.

Blessings.

comfort food · Dinner · FoodTV · Potato · The Kitchen · Uncategorized · Vegetables

Salt Potatoes

I am in love with these potatoes.  The Kitchen showcased these last week, and we had small potatoes so I had to make them, right?

Wash and place potatoes in a pot.  Cover with cold water.Add one cup of Kosher Salt (yes, a whole cup).Bring to a boil, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.They used fresh chives, and I had dried chives so that is what I used.  1/4 cup of chives, and a stick of unsalted butter melted.When the potatoes are done (fork tender), drain, and let dry on a sheet pan for about 5-8 minutes (do not pat dry or wipe off the salt).Place potatoes in a bowl (they should still be hot).  Pour butter and chive mixture over the potatoes.  Gently stir to coat the potatoes.These are NOT salty at all.  I will add black pepper next time, and fresh chives, but for items we had on hand–supper yummy.  I served these with a rib-eye steak and salad.

Blessings.

Appetizers · Chicken · comfort food · dips · Uncategorized

Jalapeno Chicken Dip

I had a friend bless me with a home grown jalapeno, several actually.  I gave most of them to co-workers, but kept one medium sized for me.

David doesn’t like jalapeno’s at all, so this was a selfish treat for me.

I had made it years ago, and it is super easy.

1 small can chicken, drained
1 jalapeno, seeds removed, and chopped
1 brick of cream cheese
1 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce

Soften the cream cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds to a minute.  Add the rest of the ingredients. Thoroughly combine the ingredients, and microwave for about 2 minutes (to cook).If you prefer, you can bake for about ten minutes at 400 degrees in a oven safe dish.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Cauliflower Rice · Dinner · Uncategorized · Vegetables · WLS

Cauliflower Fried Rice

This is so easy to make, and has fooled my nieces (they are eleven) in thinking that it is regular rice (they wanted seconds).  You can add any proteins or vegetables to it as you like, but since I was serving the Bok Choy and Japanese Chicken Thighs, I left it plain.

We buy the cauliflower rice already minced.  You are more than welcomed to google how to do that if you like, I don’t have that time.

I also cook this in my wok type skillet.  I begin with about a teaspoon of olive oil and heat the pan.  I cook this on high heat as well.  Begin by putting the cauliflower in the hot pan, and stir, adding salt and pepper (I don’t add a lot of salt as I add soy sauce).  Cook for about five minutes and then add about two teaspoons of sesame oil on the outside rim of the pan.  Stir and continue to cook until the “rice” browns a bit and most of the moisture is evaporated.Make a well in the middle of the pan.  Beat two eggs and add to the well.  Stir quickly, incorporating the rice.  Continue to stir and cook until the eggs are cooked.  Serve with some green onions on top and additional soy sauce.

If you want to add any kind of vegetables to this, I would add those before adding the eggs, and just heat through.  I have cooked this before with Chicken and with Shrimp (click for those recipes).

Enjoy.

 

Asian · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Dinner · Uncategorized · Vegetables · WLS

Roasted Bok Choy

I am in love with this recipe.  The flavors from the marinade on the Japanese Chicken Thighs pair perfectly with the Bok Choy and Cauliflower Fried Rice.

But a bit of change for the vegetables as I add more garlic and ginger.  So for this marinade I used:
Olive oil opposed to sesame oil (on the bottom of the pan)
1/2 ounce Tamari
1 ounce Mirin or Dry Sherry
1 teaspoon sugar (or honey)
2 ounces ginger – grated
3-4 large garlic – grated
2 green onions or scallions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Rinse the Bok Choy (if you can find baby Bok Choy-it is preferred) break off or cut into smaller pieces.  Dry off with a paper towel or wrap them up in a paper towel and rest.  Place on a lined cookie sheet, and either spray with non-stick cooking spray or drizzle the bottom of the pan with Olive Oil.  Place the Bok Choy on the cookie sheet.  Drizzle the marinade over the top of the Bok Choy.Roast in a pre-heated 350 degrees oven for about 15-20 minutes.  If you would like to have these still crispy, so be aware of the time in the oven.  If you like them more done, just roast for a longer time.  I did cook it with the chicken, and just placed them in the oven after the chicken had cooked for about 12 minutes.

Serve with the Japanese Chicken Thighs and Cauliflower Fried Rice.

Blessings.

Asian · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Chicken · Dinner · friends · menu · Uncategorized · WLS

Japanese Style Chicken Thighs

We had a sweet, younger couple over for dinner, and they have been eating healthy.  I made sure that our menu was okay with their diet restrictions (having many of my own currently and in the past).

The Menu: (I will be posting the Bok Choy and Cauliflower Fried Rice over the next couple of days.)

Japanese Style Chicken Thighs with Roasted Bok Choy and Cauliflower Fried Rice

For the chicken, I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs.  For the marinade and basting sauce:
1/2 ounce Tamari
1 ounce Mirin or Dry Sherry
1/4 ounce sesame oil
1 teaspoon sugar (or honey)
1 ounce ginger – grated
2 large garlic – grated
2 green onions or scallions, chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything together in a bowl except the salt, pepper and green onions.  Place the chicken in a the bowl and pour the sauce over.  Cover and let sit at room temperature for about 45 minutes to a hour.

Place chicken on a sheet pan (I cover mine with aluminium foil).  Sprinkle the chicken with the salt and pepper.Bake at 350 degrees, for about 30-35 minutes or until chicken is done, turning once and basting with the marinade.Sprinkle the green onions on the chicken.  Serve hot with the Bok Choy and Cauliflower Fried Rice.

We loved it, and our guests were very happy with the meal.  (Yay!)  I didn’t end up taking pictures of our plates (I had forgotten-ugh).

Blessings.

Appetizers · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Fish-Seafood · Uncategorized · Vegetables · WLS

Crab Stuffed Mini Peppers

I love these mini peppers (I get a bag of them at the grocery store) as they are sweet, and really flavorful.

I cut them in half and clean out the seeds.  Placed them on my mini round stone.Half of a package of cream cheese – soften in a bowl.Add a quarter of cup of a purple onion, chopped; and one tablespoon of Worcestershire.Mix thoroughly, then add the crab by folding the crab in gently. Spoon mixture into the mini bell peppers.Bake until yummy, actually about 20 minutes at 350 or until the cheese is slightly browned.These were really good, but definitely needed salt and pepper.

Let me know if you try them.

Blessings.

comfort food · FoodTV · Mom · pasta · Uncategorized

Macaroni Salad

My Mom used to make this macaroni salad when she didn’t make her German Potato Salad.  Food Network published this recipe.

Well…once again cravings took over. I made my salad and was quite pleased with how it turned out.  Elbow noodles – cook per box instructions leaving al dente, drain and cool.Chopped three stalks of celery, and green onions.  I sliced four radishes as well.Add a quarter cup of apple cider vinegar, half of cup of mayonnaise, and yellow mustard to taste.   I also added two boiled eggs, chopped.  Mix all of the ingredients together, and add salt and pepper to taste.It was not my mother’s, and certainly not the recipe from the Food Network, but it was so good.Sprinkle with paprika…or not.  Just eat it.

Let me know if you try it?

Blessings.

 

2019 · Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Dinner · Random Stuff · roasted · Uncategorized · Vegetables · WLS

Radishes

I love raw radishes, or in a salad. My Mom made radishes poached in butter. I bought these the other day…washed, and cut into quarters or halves.

I decided to roast them with some olive oil, salt and pepper.

Baked for about 30 minutes or until softened, and slightly browned.I loved these. David doesn’t care for them, but these weren’t bad per him.My plate…too much food and I didn’t eat all of it.Blessings.

Bariatric Surgery - My Story · Fish-Seafood · meal · Salmon · Uncategorized · WLS

Salmon

I love fish.  Eating fish–any kind of fish:  sushi, fried, sauteed, grilled.  I have been craving fish lately, and had some amazing salmon marinated with Dale’s Seasoning.  It was grilled, and truly yummy.

Our grill is a charcoal grill, and not the best when you just want to quick grill something.  So we decided to pan sear them.  I marinated the salmon filet’s in about 1/2 cup of Dale’s Reduced Sodium Seasoning for about one hour.We just pan seared them, skin side down in a bit of olive oil.Cook on the skin side first (about a third of the way through), and flip just to finish the cooking (maybe two minutes maximum).Hint from Gordon Ramsey: score the salmon skin before cooking will ensure that the fish won’t curl up during cooking.  It worked (like I question him and his suggestions – ha).img_1074My plate with a bit of jasmine rice, an roasted snow peas.  This will be my go to recipe for Salmon for a while.

Blessings.