Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Raspberry (Shortcut) Shortcake


 This is a re-post from many years back. A very simple dessert.

This recipe saves a few steps by using BISQUICK. Still delicious, just without much fuss.

You will need:
1 container raspberries
3 T. white sugar
2 1/3 cup Bisquick +3 T. sugar
1/2 cup milk
3 T. melted butter
Whipped cream (or Cool Whip)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Rinse/drain a container of raspberries and sprinkle with about 3 T. of white sugar and let sit  for about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, Combine Bisquick, 3 T. sugar. Add milk and butter. Stir with a fork till soft dough forms. Stir vigorously 20 strokes. Spread into a greased 8" round pan. Bake 15-17 minutes or until done. Cut into individual wedges and split in half. Place berries on bottom half and replace top and add whipped cream over it.

Best served warm.

Enjoy~ Everything in Moderation

30- minute Valentine's Day Meal: Bow Tie Pasta with Vodka Sauce and Chicken


"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating." ~Luciano Pavarotti

I can put an entire meal on the table is less than 30 minutes! You can do it too, and even for Valentine's Day!

Here's my Italian Cuisine menu:

Appetizer:Toasted Ravioli with sauce
Entree:Bow Tie Pasta with Vodka Sauce and Chicken
Side Dish:Buttered peas
Salad:Italian Salad
Bread:Garlic bread
Dessert: Angel Food Cake drizzled with Strawberry Sauce

Hungry yet?

Here we go!


Bow Tie Pasta with Vodka Sauce and Chicken

*1 pkg. skinless, boneless chicken strips
*1 bag Bow-tie Pasta
*3 T. butter
*1 tsp. minced garlic (you can buy it already minced in a small jar)
*1 jar vodka Sauce
*grated Parmesan cheese

Boil pasta according to pkg. directions.
While it boils...

Saute meat in butter and garlic till all pink is gone and meat is just a bit golden. Set aside.
When pasta is done, drain and add cooked chicken . Pour jar of sauce over and stir so heat from pasta warms the sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan!


TA-DA!


There's your main course. Now, the other dishes are what I call "cheater dishes".

Toasted Ravioli




Purchase a box of frozen ravioli and cook according to pkg. directions.
Serve with a jar of PIZZA sauce for dipping .(I like it better than Marinara for these.)

Sweet Peas with Butter

Drain 1 can sweet peas, put 1/4 stick butter on top and microwave for 3 minutes. Stir.

Garlic Bread
Purchase frozen garlic Texas toast. Add your own grated mozzarella if you like. Bake according to pkg. directions.


ITALIAN SALAD
Purchase a bag of pre-made Italian salad. Add chopped black olives from the can, drained, add a few cherry tomatoes,add some sliced pepperoni and sprinkle with Parmesan.

Angel Food Cake with strawberry Sauce



1 store-bought angel food cake.
1 container frozen strawberries, thawed.

Add sugar to taste to the berries, then drizzle over top of cake. The longer the berries in sauce sit on the cake, you'll get the effect like mine in this pic.


There you have it!

A delicious "optical illusion" of a nice dinner that didn't knock you out, but will knock the socks off your guests when they realize it only took a few minutes to prepare.

If they ask for the recipe, just tell them it's a secret. Then make your family swear to secrecy!


Enjoy~ Everything in Moderation

Thursday, February 8, 2018

A Special Chicken Piccata DInner



Chicken Piccata is a classic Italian recipe that is both elegant and very simple at the same time.
The tangy sauce over the chicken is just the right balance of flavors to tantalize your taste buds without overwhelming your belly as there is nothing heavy about this delicious dish.

It takes under 30 minutes to prepare, but has such impressive results, that it is worthy of serving for special occasions or a very romantic dinner for just the two of you.

It is one of my husband's favoritse, and he's more of a beef guy, so I take it as a great compliment.

This particular recipe is from GIADA De LAURENTIS from the Food Network.

YOU WILL NEED:

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped


Directions:


Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley and a lemon slice.



Delicious served with steamed broccoli, tomato bruschetta and a Ceasar salad.





Have you made this dish before? What were the reactions to those you served it to?

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

FOOD NETWORK MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION GIVEAWAY!!!

UPDATE: JOELYN RABY, you are the winner! Congratualtions!



On VALENTINE'S DAY, I will announce the winner of a FREE one-year subscription to THE FOOD NETWORK'S cooking magazine (10 issues).


It's easy to enter:

1. LIKE my page on facebook (click here)

2. LIKE and SHARE the link to the giveaway facebook post on your facebook page

3. Leave a comment on any of my recipes on this blog.

Your name will be automatically entered and we will do a drawing on Valentine's Day!

Easy Individual Baked Ravioli (Beginner level recipe)


What a simple, fun way to serve Ravioli! Wouldn't this be great for an easy, but romantic dinner for two on Valentine's Day?




Whether or not you think can cook, THIS dish will make a believer out of you and your guests.

You will need:

1 package frozen meat or cheese filled ravioli (boiled according to package directions and drained)
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
Shredded or sliced mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

In individual baking dishes, layer in this order: Sauce on bottom (just enough to coat) then ravioli, more sauce to cover, mozzarella to cover,a sprinkle of Parmesan. Repeat, 2-3 times depending on height of dish.

*For a larger serving, use a 8x11 baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes for individual servings,30 minutes for larger baking dish or until cheese on top is melted and lightly browned.

Serve with garlic bread  and a nice Italian salad.

Enjoy~ Everything in moderation


How to make a simple Valentine's meal special.... (a repost)



Several years ago, I came up with one of my favorite Valentine's Day memories with my husband. (We've celebrated over 3 decades of them together!)

I decided to make him a Chinese meal at home --so much more romantic than sharing dinner with 50 of our "closest friends" in a restaurant.

My menu was simple: Homemade Egg Drop Soup, Egg Rolls (purchased), Chicken and Veggies with Fried Rice, some Chai Tea and a Chocolate Heart Brownie (from a box mix cut into a heart shape with caramel and chocolate sauce drizzled on top with ice cream and a chocolate dipped strawberry.

What really made it special was the presentation.

A friend I met on facebook, allowed me to borrow her Kimono that she had used for a Halloween costume. It came complete with matching shoes!

I went to a local thrift store in town and purchased an oriental fan to complete the ensemble.

The thrift store also had some unique serving dishes with an oriental flair that I used along with the serving pieces I already had.

I even found a red book of LOVE with Chinese symbols in it!

I had a CD of oriental instrumental music playing in the background. We sat on the floor in my living room at the coffee table and enjoyed this wonderful dinner.

It was a wonderful evening. :)






My husband's gift to me was his own dinner a couple of nights before. HE IS NOT A COOK (he has honestly told me before, "Sher, I would starve without you." And he would be right!

He made a simple tortellini dish. (My request)

He purchased a bag of frozen tortellini and I told him that all he had to do was boil the pasta, and add Parmesan cheese and butter....and that's EXACTLY what he did. It was SWIMMING in water because he didn't DRAIN the pasta (because I didn't tell him to do that one very important step!) WHO woulda' thought someone wouldn't know to do that?

We laughed...drained the pasta...added more butter and Parmesan and it was delicious! He also purchased some good cheeses and crackers, and had fresh fruit for me.

Did I mention I love him?

Make it a wonderful day for whomever you love. A spouse, a child, grandchild, friend, neighbor....CELEBRATE the love for the people in your life!

Here's to a Happy Valentine's Day everyone!



Scroll down my sidebar for more dinner recipes or desserts that would be perfect for your Valentine!