Archive for the 'Simple Recipes' Category
Asparagus Rolled Chicken and Wild Rice Pilaf Meal
Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyAre you looking for a fabulous, fast and mouth watering chicken and rice meal? Well then, I have just what you are looking for.
This meal is for those times when you get a call from the in-laws, friends or family to announce dinner will be at your house on Saturday night. Not only do these recipes taste succulent, but it looks like you spent all day preparing. Plus, you do not have to be an expert cook to whip this wonderful meal that is sure to impress anyone.
The dish is made with chicken breasts, a creamy and delicious cheese filling and fresh asparagus. This is a wonderful way to add fresh vegetables to your meal. Some people do not care for asparagus. This recipe can also be modified to omit the asparagus. It will be just as mouth watering as with the asparagus.
This meal can be assembled and cooked in less than an hour. Prep the chicken earlier in the day, if possible, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Asparagus Rolled Chicken
Ingredients:
- 4-6 chicken breasts
- 1 lb fresh asparagus spears
- 4-6 oz softened cream cheese–can use light or fat free
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- Juice from ½ a lemon
- Salt and Pepper
- Pinch of seasoning salt
Steps:
Place chicken on a sheet of waxed paper. Pound chicken with wooden meat mallet to make cutlets about 1/4” thick. Set a side.
Mix cream cheese, parmesan cheese, lemon, salt, pepper and seasoning salt.
Wash and trim asparagus spears-bottoms trimmed or broken off.
Take the chicken and lay it on a clean sheet of waxed paper. Lay the chicken top side down. Top with a large spoonful of the cream cheese mixture.
Next lay 2-3 pieces of asparagus horizontally in the middle (so the sides are sticking out). If you are omitting the asparagus, move to the next step.
Roll chicken jelly-roll fashion to enclose filling; secure with toothpicks if necessary. Lay chicken seam side down on a greased baking pan. Sprinkle tops with lemon pepper seasoning salt. Bake on 375 degrees for approximately 35-40 minutes.
A wonderful addition to this meal would be a healthy and delicious Wild Rice Pilaf. To begin you would need the following ingredients.
Wild Rice Pilaf
Ingredients:
- 1 box of long grain and wild rice mix
- 1 package of sliced mushrooms (you may also use a 4 oz can of mushrooms, drained)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ tsp graded lemon peel
Steps:
Prepare rice mix per box label omitting the butter. Sauté mushrooms in olive oil until soft and tender. When rice is done, stir in mushrooms, parsley and lemon peel. That’s it!
Additional ingredient suggestion: Add slivered almond for an extra crunch.
Serve with warm and delicious rolls, fresh green salad and a wonderful and fresh strawberry shortcake. If this meal doesn’t impress anyone who sinks their teeth into it, I don’t know what will. So the next time you have un-expected or scheduled companies, you already know what to make.
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Cool Yourself With A Smoothie
Sunday, August 5th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyI can’t think of a better way to cool down on a hot summer than to whip up a blender full of goodness. I love summer time for the fresh and delicious fruit. Stopping by a fruit stand to pick up fresh berries or picking my own fruit is one of my favorite summer time activities.
In my family we have contests to see who can make a better smoothie. We are constantly experimenting with different flavors to see who will win the taste contest. I have to admit that I have won a few times.
A fresh or frozen fruit smoothie is a nutritious treat for breakfast or any time of the day you want a quick pick me up. So the next time you are craving something sweet and cold, you have to try one of these delicious smoothies!
If you don’t have fresh fruit on hand, pull the bags of frozen fruits out of the freezer. If you’re like me, I buy or pick as much fresh fruit as possible when it is in season and freeze for later use.
These smoothies are a great way to get your fill of fruit for the day. Have fun experimenting with different flavors by including your favorite seasonal fruits and berries. Who knows maybe you will start a friendly family competition to see who can make the best smoothie.
Okay so this is what you will need to get started. Keep in mind, this is only a list of suggested fruit, so feel free to add or delete any fruit you want.
Ingredients:
- 1- 2 cups of ice (you be the judge- I like mine with a few finely chopped ice chips)
- 2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice or you could use pre-made orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen raspberries or strawberries
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen mango
- 1 nectarine or peach cut up
- 1 pear cut up
- 1 fresh or frozen banana
Other suggestions: blackberries, blueberries, marion berries or melons. I have tried kiwi, but it left it really pasty. So if you do add kiwi, do it sparingly.
Tip: if your bananas start to over ripen, peel them and place them in a container and freeze until ready to use. I have several bananas in my freezer ready to use for my smoothies.
Steps:
First add your ice to the bottom of the blender. Next add your fruit. Lastly pour in your orange juice. Blend or chop for a minute or so or until your smoothie is the consistency you like. If you have added too much fruit or like a thinner smoothie then add more orange juice. If you want a little extra calcium you could also add a little bit of milk.
For extra nutrition, add a couple tablespoons of ground flaxseed or wheat germ. Or you could add protein powders, fiber supplements or other herbal supplements in powder form.
I am sure you will love these smoothies! Enjoy and happy experimenting!
Health Benefits of Fruit Dessert
Monday, July 30th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyIf you have enjoyed the recipe for our fruit dessert yesterday, you would be glad to find out about its many health benefits.
Fruiting berries are very good source of antioxidants and vitamins, but blackcurrants, in particular, are spectacular provider of vitamin C.
Vitamin C cannot be stored by the body and therefore a regular, fresh supply is vital, because of this vitamin’s ability to protect against heart disease, strokes and cancer.
Nobel Prize winner, Dr Linus Paulin, who lived into his nineties, was a staunch advocate of large doses of vitamin C. So if you follow his guidance, this fruit should be eaten whenever you can get hold of it.
Not only are blackcurrant rich in vitamin C, they also possess anti- inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities, which is why they are a traditional remedy for sore throats. They also contain useable amounts of beta-carotene and potassium, as well as being low in salt .
The fatty acids in the oil from blackcurrant seeds have been shown to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
It’s just as well blackcurrants are such a spectacularly healthy super food, because the rest of the recipe — white sugar and whole milk yogurt, is not quite as wholesome!
The white sugar is an obvious villain and in some countries — China, for example — milk is never consumed by adults. There is some basis for thinking this sensible, because incidents of both breast cancer and prostate cancer are relatively low in China, compared counties where large amounts of dairy products are consumed. Although this is not entirely definitive, there is some evidence that a diet high in saturated fat (which includes dairy products) contributes to these related forms of cancer, as well as the more obvious heart disease and strokes.
On the other hand, there should be some balance in your diet and there’s no real harm in eating something naughty, once in a while.
You should always remember the story of the man who gave up smoking, drinking and chasing women, because he was determined to live to 100. But if he didn’t smoke, didn’t drink and didn’t chase women, it’s difficult to see why he wanted to live to 100.
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Health Benefits of Fruit Dessert
Monday, July 30th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyIf you have enjoyed the recipe for our fruit dessert yesterday, you would be glad to find out about its many health benefits.
Fruiting berries are very good source of antioxidants and vitamins, but blackcurrants, in particular, are spectacular provider of vitamin C.
Vitamin C cannot be stored by the body and therefore a regular, fresh supply is vital, because of this vitamin’s ability to protect against heart disease, strokes and cancer.
Nobel Prize winner, Dr Linus Paulin, who lived into his nineties, was a staunch advocate of large doses of vitamin C. So if you follow his guidance, this fruit should be eaten whenever you can get hold of it.
Not only are blackcurrant rich in vitamin C, they also possess anti- inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities, which is why they are a traditional remedy for sore throats. They also contain useable amounts of beta-carotene and potassium, as well as being low in salt .
The fatty acids in the oil from blackcurrant seeds have been shown to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
It’s just as well blackcurrants are such a spectacularly healthy super food, because the rest of the recipe — white sugar and whole milk yogurt, is not quite as wholesome!
The white sugar is an obvious villain and in some countries — China, for example — milk is never consumed by adults. There is some basis for thinking this sensible, because incidents of both breast cancer and prostate cancer are relatively low in China, compared counties where large amounts of dairy products are consumed. Although this is not entirely definitive, there is some evidence that a diet high in saturated fat (which includes dairy products) contributes to these related forms of cancer, as well as the more obvious heart disease and strokes.
On the other hand, there should be some balance in your diet and there’s no real harm in eating something naughty, once in a while.
You should always remember the story of the man who gave up smoking, drinking and chasing women, because he was determined to live to 100. But if he didn’t smoke, didn’t drink and didn’t chase women, it’s difficult to see why he wanted to live to 100.
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Health Benefits of Fruit Dessert
Monday, July 30th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyIf you have enjoyed the recipe for our fruit dessert yesterday, you would be glad to find out about its many health benefits.
Fruiting berries are very good source of antioxidants and vitamins, but blackcurrants, in particular, are spectacular provider of vitamin C.
Vitamin C cannot be stored by the body and therefore a regular, fresh supply is vital, because of this vitamin’s ability to protect against heart disease, strokes and cancer.
Nobel Prize winner, Dr Linus Paulin, who lived into his nineties, was a staunch advocate of large doses of vitamin C. So if you follow his guidance, this fruit should be eaten whenever you can get hold of it.
Not only are blackcurrant rich in vitamin C, they also possess anti- inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities, which is why they are a traditional remedy for sore throats. They also contain useable amounts of beta-carotene and potassium, as well as being low in salt .
The fatty acids in the oil from blackcurrant seeds have been shown to relieve the pain of rheumatoid arthritis.
It’s just as well blackcurrants are such a spectacularly healthy super food, because the rest of the recipe — white sugar and whole milk yogurt, is not quite as wholesome!
The white sugar is an obvious villain and in some countries — China, for example — milk is never consumed by adults. There is some basis for thinking this sensible, because incidents of both breast cancer and prostate cancer are relatively low in China, compared counties where large amounts of dairy products are consumed. Although this is not entirely definitive, there is some evidence that a diet high in saturated fat (which includes dairy products) contributes to these related forms of cancer, as well as the more obvious heart disease and strokes.
On the other hand, there should be some balance in your diet and there’s no real harm in eating something naughty, once in a while.
You should always remember the story of the man who gave up smoking, drinking and chasing women, because he was determined to live to 100. But if he didn’t smoke, didn’t drink and didn’t chase women, it’s difficult to see why he wanted to live to 100.
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Fruit Dessert For Sizzling Summer
Sunday, July 29th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyWell, summer is almost over but here is a dessert that you can make anytime of the year.
The following recipe serves two people.
Ingredients:
- 10 oz (300 gms) blackcurrants
- 5oz (150 gms) granulated sugar
- 6-8 dessert spoon Greek style whole milk yogurt
- 6 teaspoons fine or caster sugar
Cook the blackcurrant and granulated sugar in a pan on a medium heat for about ten minutes, until the sugar has all dissolved, but the fruit is still firm. Leave it in a refrigerator to cool.
When cooled, spoon the blackcurrants into ramekins, to half fill the container. Fill the other half with the Greek yogurt.
Sprinkle the fine sugar liberally over the yogurt and then place the ramekins under a hot broiler, until the sugar caramelizes. Allow to cool before serving.
If you are looking to make it even more spectacular, you could caramelize the sugar with a blow torch- but do be careful!
Taco Soup Recipe- Quick & Easy
Friday, July 27th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyWho hasn’t needed a quick meal, I know I have. One meal that I love is taco soup. This is a great crock pot meal that is sure to please everyone. The great thing about taco soup is that you it takes about 10 minutes maximum to throw together and can be in the crock pot for as little as 2 hours or as long as you want. This recipe is for everyone even if you are just starting out in the cooking world. Here are the ingredients that you will need.
Ingredients:
- one to one and half pounds of ground beef or turkey
- one can of lima or butter beans
- one can of pinto beans
- one can of kidney beans
- one can of golden homeny
- two to four can of diced or stewed tomatoes
- one packet of ranch seasoning
- one packet of taco seasoning
- half of a cup to two cups of water
Steps:
To start, get your meat cooking in a frying pan on the stove. Cook the meat over a medium heat for about 10 minutes or until there is no pink.
While the meat is cooking open up all of your canned beans and put them in the crock pot. Be sure to be watching the meat and stirring occasionally. For the tomatoes, use at least two cans. However, if you really like tomatoes then add some more, it makes for a great flavor.
Take both packets of seasoning and mix them with the amount of water you chose. For more of a stew consistency only use a little bit of water and for more of a soup like consistency add the full amount of water. Add the mixed flavors to the crock pot.
Now the meat should be done or near there. Add the meat to the crock pot and mix it all together.
Now the cooking duration, if you are only going to leave it in for a short time change the temperate setting to high for about two hours. If you chose a longer time frame then use the low setting for about 4 hours, and if you are going to leave it on all day while you are at work, use the keep warm setting.
Have some sour cream and shredded cheese on the side for guests to add if they like. Serve this delicious soup with a cornbread; it makes great dipping bread for this recipe. Also you can serve with tortilla chips or whatever sounds good to you.
Another bonus of this recipe is that it can be done in a dutch oven when camping. You add all of the ingredients and mix up. Then you can pour a cornbread mixture right on top. Place the dutch oven in its hole and cover with coal or briquettes and in about 3 hours you will have taco soup and cornbread while you camp.
Getting your Kitchen Ready for Cooking
Summer Time Tasty Treats- Smoothie Recipes
Friday, July 6th, 2007 by The Cooking GuySummer is a wonderful time for cold and refreshing treats. These ideas are perfect for those hot days when you can see the steam coming off the blacktop, forcing you to run to the freezer and fill up on a bowl of ice cream. To avoid the sugar over load, these recipes and ideas will keep you and your kids cool and satisfied.
There is no better time than summer for cool fruity delights. There are lots of different ways to turn fruit into a cool, healthy and satisfying treat. Here are a few ideas that are sure to put a smile on your face.
Orange Julius
Ingredients:
- ½ can frozen Orange Juice concentrate
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1-2 cups ice cubes
Steps:
First add your ice to the bottom of the Blender. Next add all of your other ingredients. Blend until mixed and ice cubes are crushed.
Fresh Fruit Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1-2 cups ice cubes
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen pineapple
- ¼ cup fresh or frozen berries
- ¼ cups fresh or frozen mangos
- 1 peach or nectarine
- 1 pear
- 1 fresh or frozen banana
- 2 cups pre-made orange juice
Steps:
First add your ice to the bottom of the blender. Next add your fruit. Lastly pour in your orange juice. Blend or chop for a minute or so or until your smoothie is the consistency you like. If you have added too much fruit or like a thinner smoothie then add more orange juice. If you want a little extra calcium you could also add a little bit of milk.
For extra nutrition, add a couple tablespoons of ground flaxseed or wheat germ.
Other suggestions: blackberries, blueberries, marion berries or melons.
I have tried kiwi, but it left it really pasty. So if you do add kiwi, do it sparingly.
Keep in mind, this is only a list of suggested fruit, so feel free to add or delete any fruit you want. BTW if you would like your kids to have fun with making smoothies, check out
SMOOTHIES by KLUTZ.
Peach or Pear Smoothie
Ingredients:
1 small or large can of peaches or pears (juice and all)
1 cup ice
Steps:
Combine in blender and blend until mixed.
Here are some other great ideas
- Frozen grapes are cool and sweet. You won’t know you are eating fruit these are so good. Once you try these, you will always have some on hand.
- Chocolate dipped strawberries, blackberries or raspberries. Put a toothpick in the tip and dip in chocolate and freeze on a tray.
- Frozen bananas dipped in chocolate syrup and chopped nuts
- Any combination of frozen fruit, milk, yogurt and ice for a tasty milkshake
- Fill ice cube trays or paper cups with fresh fruit juice or a mixture of blended fruit and juice.
I am sure you and your kids will enjoy these cool, tasty and nutritious summer time treats. You can now make smoothies easily with Easy Bake Smoothie Maker.
If you are looking for more smoothies recipes, send me an email at support@pickupcooking.com and I will whip up some more healthy smoothie recipes just for you.
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Breakfast and Lunch Recipes For Cancer Treatment
Friday, June 29th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyTechnorati Tags: Breakfast and Lunch Recipes For Cancer Treatment, breakfast recipe, cancer treatment, lunch recipe
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Delicious Stew For Cancer Treatment
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007 by The Cooking GuyLearn how to prepare a healthy and delicious stew especially for people who are going through tough cancer treatment.
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