Another delicious, healthy bang for the buck recipe

My friend came over for dinner Friday night and I served this delicious dish. I put the following in my Crock Pot:  four chicken breasts (cut into eight pieces) mushrooms,  minced onion, zuchini, a can of tomato sauce, a can of Italian diced tomatoes, minced garlic, some Italian seasoning paste and cooked on low for eight hours.

During the last 30 minutes,  I added a package of frozen spinach (thawed out in the microwave). I served this creation over rigatoni with a fresh green salad and parmasan rolls. This was delicious and my friend loved it. The best part? I got TEN portions out of this creation.

Now, how's THAT for a delicious bang for the buck meal?

Chicken, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms and zuchini served over rigatoni pasta***

****F00dP0rn thanks Agnes Dodge for this photo. I was so caught up in entertaining and catching up with Agnes, whom I had not seen in awhile that I forgot to take out my camera!

Stretching your food dollar delectably

Sick of getting gauged at the pump? Looking to stretch your food dollar while still enjoying delicious, savory healthy meals? Then look no further than this dish: Moroccan chicken. I made this using TWO chicken breasts but got SIX meals out of it! I did this by 1.cutting the chicken breasts into four pieces 2. bulking it up with vegetables 3. Serving it over rice. See? Stretching your food dollar can be fun AND yummy!

Savory, healthy, economical deliciousness plated

I burnt my hand making this meal

On Friday, I took advantage of the rainy, misty weather and brought out my CrockPot to make chicken chili verde. Like any dish prepared in a CrockPot, it smelled amazing as it simmered to deliciousness.

However, chili needs a side: cornbread! Using my cast iron skillet, I prepared an easy recipe for cornbread. Now, I am not sure if you have ever used a cast iron skillet. Not only are they incredibly heavy, they become VERY hot. Despite the oven mitt, I burnt my hand taking it out of the oven.

As I iced my poor hand, I enjoyed the chicken chili verde over long grain rice with a dollop of low fat sour cream, cheddar cheese and a piece of burn-inducing cornbread. This was definitely worth the injury for the best chili I have ever made; perfectly complemented on a rainy night by cornbread prepared the old fashioned way.

Skillet cornbread fresh out of the oven.....(I took this picture with ONE hand! The other was holding an ice pack)

On a plate....

Chicken chili verde with a piece of cornbread.....

A versatile recipe

Having successfully made my first batch of walnut mandel bread, I decided to change the mix ins to see what combinations I could come up with. Using a bag of dried cranberries I wanted to use up and some dark chocolate chips, I came up with chocolate chip dried cranberry mandel bread. This was DELICIOUS and tasted amazing when I dipped it into my post-Zumba coffee. My friends liked it too!

Fresh out of the oven.....

My entry in a (cancelled) cooking contest

I was so excited when I found out a local farmer's market was having a cooking contest to go along with their annual strawberry festival. I eagerly entered in the baked goods category and spent an afternoon doing a practice run of my creation, strawberry layer cake with cream cheese icing. The next day, I went all over town visiting friends and sharing my creation and getting feedback. I am dissappointed the contest was cancelled but I know if the opportunity EVER presents itself again, this showstopper is a surefire entry.

Decorated with fresh strawberries....

...brushed with aa glaze to make it shine

Finished!

Plated...!

A creation from things I needed to use up

I had part of a carton of sour cream, some fresh onion, some fried onions straws and the last of a bag of egg noodles that I wanted to use up. What could I create with these things? Beef stroganoff casserole, of course! By adding some ground beef, a can of cream of mushroom soup, fresh mushrooms, cheddar cheese and a splash of milk, I was able to create a delicious, savory meal that made my post-Zumba belly VERY happy.

Mixing it all together...

Ready to bake to savory perfection

All finished.....ready for my belly!

Plated....

Giving the Italian chains a run for the money

This is zesty Italian chicken, which I created Friday night. I served it with a side of vegetable cous-cous. It was delicious and tasted like an entree I think you can get at a place such as Romano's Macaroni Grill or Olive Garden.

Zesty Italian chicken plated with vegetable cous-cous.

Three new recipes for a breakfast meeting

This week, I catered a breakfast meeting for a client in Silver Spring, MD. I brought out three new recipes for this: blueberry/lemon bundt cake, walnut mandel bread and mini corn muffins. Everything was delicious. My client and the people at the meeting were very happy and it was so much fun to answer questions about my creations and make recommendations.

Blueberry/lemon Bundt cake cooling on a rack



24 mini corn muffins cooling on a rack

Walnut mandel bread

Catering display.....

Another table shot.....