An experiment... gone wrong?

I think my titles are getting cooler... what do you think?

We had Parmesan Tilapia last night

Parmesan Tilapia with Deli Coleslaw and Corn on the Cob

I said it was and experiment and it was... we ate fish. Anyone who knows me knows that I HATE fish! I don't like the smell, the taste, or the texture and Erik dislikes it almost as much as I do. Having said that fish is good for you for a variety of reasons and I have no desire for my children to be picky about food because I never put anything new on the table (they are picky enough on their own). My second misgiving about this experiment is that every TV show I have ever watched on cooking has said that cheese is a strange pairing with fish and rarely works taste wise. My third misgiving was that according to everything I know about cooking when you bread a piece of meat you need some sort of liquid to make the breading adhere, egg, butter, mayonnaise, etc... and the recipe I had didn't have any of those things. My last misgiving was broiling the fish... I have only lived with my oven and broiler for 6 months and for half that time I was eating fast food and using my oven to bake Elijah's waffles. I would say that a third of things that I make in the oven burn or at least overcook... so when you are talking about broiling a delicate fish I had trepidations....

I WAS RIGHT!!!! Well almost :/

In terms of the fishy taste, it wasn't there I couldn't find it so I was able to eat the fish without gagging... yay? The parmesan tasted okay with the fish but I think that's because Parmesan is a buttery tasting cheese, not overpowering, and Tilapia is a very mild fish. I was right about the liquid required my breading wouldn't stay adhered to the fish so it just burned onto the ban... and that brings me to the last item on my list.... I did indeed overcook/burn the three pieces of Tilapia in the middle of the pan, so Erik and I ate the ones on the outside edges which weren't as bad. The fish was fine, as Erik would say, for fish... we both liked the coleslaw and the corn the best of the meal... sigh, maybe we are hopelessly stuck in our ruts? NAH!  Making something new tonight! See ya tomorrow!

PS I didn't put a website cause I couldn't find one for the exact recipe for the fish... however ones that I did find (just put Parmesan Tilapia into Google) look like they would come out better than the one I used last night anyway...

So Sue Me

Like I said on my Facebook post... I have not been the best about posting lately but I am doing my best to get back on track (and I better before summer hits or I will never get anything done!).

So this post is a catch up post... letting you know what I did since I posted last...

I am not going to include the cost breakdown (cause everyday its about the same less than $5-$10 per person for a family of four) and I am not going to include all the preparation gobbledy gook unless its NOT fast or easy (and when I say fast I mean 30 minutes or less and when I say easy I mean a 4 or 5 step process versus a 15 step process). I am going to include the website for the recipe, the picture, and the verdict. This particular post is going to show multiple meals so bear with me, ok?

Lime-sauced Chicken Breasts

#1 Lime-Sauced Chicken Breasts
found at: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-with-lime-sauce-10000001173801/

This one comes with a funny story... So I started making dinner at my usual time, kids were watching television, Erik was decompressing in front of the computer, when my cell phone starts to ring. I couldn't really answer it cause I had stuff all over my hands so I tossed my phone to Erik and as he is talking to the other person I had a sudden realization... we were supposed to go OUT to dinner tonight with friends and I had completely forgotten! Having already started cooking the chicken I couldn't stop in the middle so I finished and told my babysitter (who HAD remembered I was going out) that it was dinner for her if she wanted it. The picture is what was left (it came with roasted potatoes and green beans). So when I finally did taste it the chicken was tangy but a little sweet as well, very moist, and just all around yummy! A good chicken recipe for those of you on the lookout for good chicken recipes. =)

Italian Casserole with Green salad

#2 Italian Casserole
where to find it: http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/zesty-italian-crescent-casserole/4856ffe5-9c66-4149-ab58-24d66d9929f5/#

I wasn't sure if I was going to like this one. Usually I am leery of casseroles ESPECIALLY when they have some sort of dough on top, that usually doesn't turn out well. This one was pretty good. I DO NOT recommend this for a regular 4-person family meal. I recommend it for potlucks, when your son bring 2 or 3 friends home for dinner, as a meal for a gaggle of girls for a slumber party. This is hearty food, meant for a large group who doesn't care what it looks like but just care if it tastes good. It totally appeals to the taste buds of people under the age of 20. Its also simple, affordable, and easy to make.

Beef Chimichangas with Mexican Ranch Wedge Salad and Tortilla Chips

#3 Beef Chimichangas
where to find it: http://www.food.com/recipe/Baked-Baja-Beef-Chimichangas-108901

A couple of differences to note... I used cider vinegar instead of white vinegar, and I also mixed sour cream and taco sauce into the filling (cause it tastes so good)... This came out sooooo good! They were super yummy (in fact I ate the leftovers cold for two additional days after making them, they were that good!) My husband says they were spicy but I have it on another authority (not mine) that they weren't spicy at all... what can I say Erik is a wuss about spicy (sigh). Super Yummy and I highly recommend baking them (even though I love fried food too!)

French Steak with Wild Rice and Broccoli

#4 French Steak
where to find it: http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1818,158188-243194,00.html

Differences to note: Also cut the meat into bite size pieces, butter and olive oil to brown the meat, instead of onion soup and water throw in an onion (diced) once you pull the meat (once its browned) and after the onion is cooked throw in garlic, white wine, beef broth, worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and pepper. Now, what I was supposed to do when the meat was done cooking was mix in a cup of shredded cheddar cheese and a 1/2 cup of sour cream.... but I didn't do that cause I didn't read my recipe as thoroughly as I should have and trust me when I say the meat would have been so much better for the addition. The meat wasn't horrible it just didn't taste as good as the smell said it was going to. And that was the last recipe to bring us current so without further ado.....

LAST NIGHTS DINNER

Sesame Chicken with Steamed White Rice and Asian Style Vegetables

Monday Night: Sesame Chicken
where to find it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sesame-Ginger-Chicken/

The recipe is for a grilling recipe and I turned it into a stir fry recipe so for the amounts of the ingredients they are going to need to be increased (otherwise your chicken will be yucky) so increase the honey and the soy sauce to 1/2 a cup each, include a cup of water and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in order to thicken up the sauce, and of course your ground ginger. For those of you who don't know how I converted it. Cube up your chicken breast and cook in sesame oil and garlic until no longer pink, mix all of your sauce ingredients together and pour over chicken, cover and simmer 10 minutes. Serve over rice and vegetables. The verdict on this one is a good one... it was yummy, the sauce was the right consistency (not watery) and it actually tasted like something I might get from a chinese food restaurant (oh and Erik liked it too)

Okay.... that catches me up... come back tomorrow for another installment and keep me honest!

May 22, 2012

Hey Y'all!

What was for dinner? Sesame Shrimp with Rice

Website: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/sesame-shrimp/

Picture:

Sesame Shrimp with Rice with a side of butter steamed broccoli and cauliflower

The Differences: Okay the differences are this... double everything except the lemon pepper and I used already cooked tail on shrimp.

The Prep: It takes 5 minutes to throw everything together for the marinade and get the shrimp into the refrigerator. While the shrimp is marinating for 30 minutes put together the broccoli, cauliflower, and butter. I steamed the vegetables for 8 minutes. I also used the 30 minutes to make the white rice. Once those things were done it takes about 5 minutes to heat the shrimp. So 5 minutes to prep, 30 minutes to marinate, and 5 minutes to cook.

The Cost Breakdown:
Shrimp: $10.90
Broccoli: $2.38
Cauliflower: $1.85

not included in the cost of the meal is the soy sauce, sesame oil, lemon juice, garlic powder, lemon pepper, rice, sesame seeds, butter, and salt as all of those items I already had in the pantry.

Total: $15.13 or $3.78 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: I felt like I was really eating healthy last night, LOL. The shrimp was super yummy though I highly recommend taking the tails off of the shrimp before marinating the shrimp. It tasted really good with the rice and the broccoli and cauliflower was a nice crispness and the butter steaming made it super yummy. Erik said it tasted fine but he is not a shrimp lover so that was a wrench in the works for him... as he said to me he "prefers land animals" to eat. Such a man! LOL It was yummy, easy to make, and affordable... as well as a nice change from beef and chicken! Enjoy!

May 21, 2012

Okay, I know I haven't posted for a week but I was out of town so you will have to forgive me =)

What was for dinner last night? Yummy Parmesan Chicken

Website: http://easy.betterrecipes.com/yummy-parmesan-mayo-chicken.html

Picture:

Yummy Parmesan Chicken with Corn and Green Salad

The differences: I used 2 pounds of chicken instead of one, I used Miracle Whip opposed to Mayonnaise as I like Miracle Whip better. Instead of Oregano I used seasoning salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mustard. I reduced the cheese to 1/2 a cup instead of 1 and a half cups. I cooked the chicken at 375 degrees verses 350 degrees but the bake time stays the same.

The Prep: It took me 5 minutes to mix together the seasonings, cheese, and Miracle Whip and spread it on the chicken... 45 minutes to bake and used that time to fix the corn and the salad.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken Breasts: $6.99
Parmesan Cheese: $1.99
Salad: $2.49
Corn: $0.99

not included are the costs of the Miracle Whip or the seasonings.

Total: $12.46 or $3.12 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: The Chicken was so GOOD! Nice and moist, and the cheese topping was so good I was eating it out of the pan as I was doing the dishes. Totally would make this again, especially because the chicken was anything but dry, which I hate with a passion. Erik liked it and Erika was all about the corn and the salad so it was a good meal!

May 12, 2012

Dinner: Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets

Website: http://www.frenchs.com/contest/recipe/french-fried-onion-and-honey-mustard-chicken-nuggets-2855

Picture:

Honey Mustard Chicken Nuggets with French Fries and Strawberries

Differences: There are alot so lets make this easy... Cut your chicken breasts in 1 inch pieces, dip them in honey mustard and then bread them with crushed fried onions. Bake them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. How easy is that?

The Prep: It takes 15 minutes to cut, dip, and bread the chicken. 15 minutes to bake the chicken, 25 minutes to bake the fries, and 5 minutes to slice the strawberries.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $4.49
Fried onions: $2.49
French Fries: $2.49
Strawberries: $2.50

Not included was the cost of the honey mustard as I already had it on hand.

Total: $11.97 or $2.99 per person for a family of four.

The Verdict: These nuggets were easy to make and very yummy. I would totally make them again. Erik liked them and that, in the end, is all that matters =) See you tomorrow!

May 11, 2012

What was for dinner? French Dip Sandwiches

website: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Easy-Slow-Cooker-French-Dip/

picture:

Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches with Au Jus and Chips on the side

The Differences: I did not use any beer in the mixture for the meat in the crock pot, I shredded the meat instead of slicing it; I put the meat and the Swiss cheese (did I mention the cheese?) on to the open face buns covered them loosely with foil and baked the whole sandwich for about 15 minutes thereby melting the cheese and toasting the bun.

The Prep: I did not trim the fat from the meat... anyone who cooks low and slow will tell you "Remove the fat before cooking and you will remove the flavor of the meat." So I opted to put the meat in the crock pot as it came out of the container and remove the fat as I shredded the meat once it was cooked. 5 minutes to prep the meat and add the onion soup and beef broth to the crock pot. 8 hours to cook,5 minutes to shred the meat, 5 minutes to make the sandwiches, and 15 minutes to toast them. Without the crock pot cook time your prep takes about 30 minutes.

The Cost Breakdown:
Chuck Roast: $7.51
Onion Soup mix: $0.79
Beef Broth: $0.79
Sandwich Rolls: $4.19
Swiss Cheese: $4.49
Chips: $2.50

All items needed for cooking included in the cost of the meal

Total: $20.27 or $5.07 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: Goodness this was SOOO good. All of the flavors came together and it was yummy, it was hearty, it was filling, easy to put together on a busy day, and such a summertime meal (felt that way to me anyway). I wasn't sure I was going to like it cause French Dip sandwiches are not my go to meat sandwich... I wasn't sure if Erik was going to like it cause he doesn't like meat out of the crock pot... we BOTH liked this meal a great deal and would definitely have it again, it was awesome!

May 10, 2012

What was for dinner last night? Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms

website: http://www.food.com/recipe/balsamic-chicken-and-mushrooms-54726

picture:

Balsamic Chicken and Mushrooms with Steamed Rice and Kale

The Differences: I used One and a half pounds of chicken instead of two pounds, 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar instead of three tablespoons, I used one tablespoon of HONEY mustard instead of dijon mustard, I used two cloves of minced garlic, and one tablespoon of olive oil to cook the chicken instead of vegetable oil. I also used a half cup of chicken broth. In terms of the cooking I didn't change anything except I put all of the oil into the pan before I cooked the chicken instead of putting half in before the chicken and the other half into a hot pan right before the mushrooms (that seemed like a weird instruction to me).

The Prep: This recipe went faster than I expected... in fact I undercooked the rice because everything else was done so fast. So basically, it takes 5 minutes to mix the vinegar, mustard, and garlic and to dip the chicken into it and get it into the pan. Cook the chicken for 3 minutes, turn it and cook it 3 minutes more. Remove it from the pan and drop the mushrooms in, cooking them for 2 minutes, then add the broth and the thyme, and cook an additional 3 minutes or until deep brown. While you are messing with all of this you should be cooking your rice and whatever veggie you choose to use. When the mushrooms are done you are done... It takes about 20 minutes to cook and prep the chicken and the mushrooms. It was really fast, felt like I was on Chopped!

The Cost Breakdown:
Chicken: $4.49
Mushrooms: $2.19
Kale: $1.99

I did not include the cost of the balsamic vinegar, mustard, garlic, olive oil, or thyme as they are pantry items and I had all of them on hand. I also did not include the price of the chicken broth or the white rice as I had both of those things on hand, this time. That may not be the case next time.

Total: $8.67 or $2.17 per person for a family of four

The Verdict: Oh my gosh, the chicken was pretty good, nice and moist. The mushrooms (cause I am a mushroom lover) were fan-fricking-tastic! Sooooo yummy! Also, I had never had kale and it was extremely yummy as well. Erik told me its a good source of Vitamin A (good for eyeballs) so I thought I would pass that information along. Erik really liked it too! The reason I am mentioning that is because Erik HATES mushrooms (like with an undying passion). So how did I get him to like it you ask? I didn't, I made sure that no ACTUAL mushrooms were on his plate but I did put the sauce onto his chicken and he thought it tasted really good. After the crockpot fiasco the night before it was really nice for him to really like something that I was totally expecting him to hate and refuse to eat.  YAY! So happy! I highly recommend this recipe, especially if you like chicken with a slightly Asian taste to it. And at a little over $2 you just can't beat that price, know what I mean? =) See you tomorrow!