Sweet and Sour Pork or Chicken

This recipe is from a lady in my ward who is actually from China so maybe it has more authenticity than my previous "chinese chicken" post. It is quick and easy to make. It calls for red and green peppers which I have used but I have also substituted carrots for the peppers because my kids are more willing to eat carrots (that and right now I just can't eat peppers).
You just have to add the carrots at the beginning with the meat instead of at the end. Paige

1 can (16-0z) pineapple chunks in syrup (don't drain)
1 Tbs. cider vinegar
2 Tbs ketchup
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 lb. boneless pork or chicken cut into bite-size cubes
1 onion, chopped
1 green and red bell pepper, cut into 1" pieces
1 Tbs cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbs water

1. Heat 1 Tbs oil, stir in pork/chicken and onion, cook for about 10 minutes, until meat is cooked and onion is tender.
2. Add pineapple with syrup, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce, cook for 10 minutes more.
3. Add cornstarch and stir to make sure the juice thickens.
4. Add the pepper, stir till pepper is coated and warm. Serve over rice.

Mexican Lasagna

Another way to eat the mexi food combination. This recipe is from Rachel Ray and it really is easy to prep. The recipe calls for ground chicken but I used ground turkey and I'm sure that ground beef would also substitute well. As yellow onion could be used instead of red and kidney beans instead of black, and canned corn instead of frozen.

3 Tbs. olive oil
2 pounds ground chicken or turkey breast
2 Tbs. chili powder
2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 (14-oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 cup taco sauce
1 (15-0z) can black beans, drained
1 cup frozen corn kernels
salt
8 8-inch flour or spinach flour tortillas
2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or pepper jack cheese

Preheat the oven to 425.
Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 Tbs olive oil. Add chicken/turkey and season with chili powder, cumin and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add stewed tomatoes and taco sauce. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2-3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.

Coat a shallow baking dish with the remaining olive oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12-15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly.

Quick-Fix Beef Burrito Skillet

This turned out pretty good--nothing gourmet, but we enjoy different types of Mexican food. It's really good if you eat it with a chunky homemade salsa made of diced tomatoes, red bell pepper, avocado, can of black beans, can of corn, cilantro, lime juice, and garlic. Laura


1 lb. lean ground beef
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) Taco Seasoning Mix
1 can (19 oz.) kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup Salsa
1 cup water
4 flour tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-1/2-inch squares
1 cup Mexican Style Shredded Four Cheese
1/3 cup Sour Cream
1/3 cup chopped green onions (about 1 large)



BROWN meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain.
ADD seasoning mix, beans, salsa and water; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 5 min.
STIR in tortillas; top with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and onions.

Microwaved Salmon and Yogurt Sauce

When I saw this recipe I didn't think it would work to microwave the fish but it actually turns out great. It is nice for me because I don't have a hood on my oven and this makes less of a fish smell after dinner. And it is really quick. I served it with Lark's lemon rice and a green vegetable. Paige

Salmon:
1 Tbs. chopped fresh ginger (I used dry spice but less than a Tbs.)
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp curry powder
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne
1 1/2 lbs salmon filet, cut into 4 pieces.

Sauce:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
3 Tbs fresh chopped mint
1 Tbs olive oil
2 tsp fresh minced onion, shallot or scallion
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper

1. Sauce: In a small bowl, combine yogurt and the rest of the sauce ingredients. Cover and refigerate until ready to serve.
2. Salmon: In a small bowl, mix together ginger, garlic, curry powder, lemon juice, paprika, salt, cinnamon and cayenne. Place salmon in a microwave-safe baking dish. Spread ginger-curry mixture over salmon.
3. Cover with plastic wrap, venting in one corner. Microwave on High for 5 minutes. Let rest for a few minutes.
4. Slip thin spatula underneath skin and lift salmon off; serve salmon with yogurt sauce on the side.

BBQ Ribs

My kids call these "cow bones" and they always go over well. We sometimes grill them outside and sometimes cook them in the crockpot. When done in the crockpot the meat comes off the bone much easier and the flavor soaks in better, but some times we like the flavor of the grill. I served them with french fries and had happy, busy mouths that night!

1 pkg. beef (or pork) ribs from the meat department (I buy them when they are on sale. This week the short ribs were on sale--half the size of a regular size rib)
1/2 bottle of BBQ sauce

Put meat in slow cooker. Dump BBQ sauce on top--you can add water to thin the sauce. Cook about 5 hours on high. They stay hot for a long time after coming out of the slow cooker so I usually just cut the meat off the bones and serve them.

Homemade Pizza

I often make pizza when I don't feel like doing a lot, or when I am totally out of ideas. I always keep a bag of pepperoni in my fridge so I can make it anytime. I also always make the dough from scratch because I'm cheap and don't plan ahead sometimes to buy the Bobolli crust...but that works great too. I always serve with salad. Lark
Quick Pizza Dough
2 C. flour
1 Tbsp. quick rising yeast
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. sugar or honey
¾ C water (hottest water from tap works)
Combine everything except water. Then add hot water (if mixture is too dry you can add 1 or 2 Tbsp. more hot water)
Knead until dough forms a ball.
Transfer dough to a lightly floured bowl (or leave in your Kitchenaid as is - no need to dirty another bowl!) Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10-15 minutes.
On floured surface, using a rolling pin, roll out your pizza – about 12” in diameter and ½” thick.
Transfer dough to a floured cooking surface and poke with a fork in a few places.
Bake at 425* for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Then add sauce, cheese and favorite toppings and cook again until cheese is melted.
For sauce, I use a jar of spagetti sauce or a can of tomato sauce with Italian seasonings, fresh garlic and sometimes canned diced tomatoes.
Then add your favorite toppings:
1. Pepperoni w/ olives: either slices of pepperoni or a stick, chopped up in your food processor.
2. Canadian bacon and pineapple: I use ham lunch meat, cut up and canned pineapple chunks and slivered almonds.
3. BBQ Chicken pizza (one of our favorites!): Sprinkle crust with colby jack cheese, then BBQ sauce (1/2 bottle or more), then cubed, marinated BBQ chicken, then red onion slices and finally more cheese. Bake at 450 for 10 minutes or so. Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh, chopped cilantro.

Hawaiian Chicken

This is a recipe from my best friend, Kim Olsen. It's got a sweet flavor and my family loves it (the kids don't love the bell peppers, but they eat around them). It makes a lot and is a good meal when you are having company. You can serve this with a salad and those sweet Hawaiian-brand rolls since the flavors are similar. Laura

2-3 lbs. of chicken (or however many breasts/tenderloins you need to serve)
1 20 oz. can of pineapple chunks
3/4 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. pineapple/water combined (drain canned pineapple and save and add water until you get 1 1/2 C. )
1/2 C. vinegar
2 1/2 T. cornstarch
1 T. soy sauce
1 t. ginger root
2 cubes chicken bouillon
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch square pieces

Coat chicken pieces in flour (works best if chicken is thawed. If frozen, get them wet, then coat them). Spray a deep cooking pan/skillet with PAM and brown the chicken-turning once. Remove chicken and set aside.

In deep cooking pan/skillet, to make the sauce, combine the rest of the ingredients, except pineapple chuncks and bell pepper pieces. Don't put heat on until you've added all the ingredients and the cornstarch is whisked in or else it will clump up. Bring to a boil on medium heat--whisking often. Simmer for 5 minutes on low heat until thick. Add browned chicken, pineapple chunks and bell peppers. Cover and let simmer on low heat about 20 minutes--until chicken is cooked through and peppers are medium-soft. Serve over rice.

Easy Cheese Danish

Laura - this is for you for your breakfast for dinner night! Or it would make a yummy birthday breakfast. It's really easy...make Matt make it for you! I've only made this once and I think that 16 ounces of cream cheese is too much, so I would try maybe half that, or cutting it back some. Lark

Easy Cheese Danish
Serves 8

16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 ½ tsp. vanilla extract
½ cup sugar
2 pkgs refrigerated crescent roll dough
½ cup raspberry or apricot jam
1 egg, beaten
4 ounces sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350. Mix cream cheese, vanilla and sugar in a bowl.
Unroll 1 can crescent roll dough on a cookie sheet, sealing perforations. Spread filling on dough, leaving ¼-inch edges. Top with jam.
Unroll second can of crescent roll dough and lay on top of first layer. Seal edges with edge of fork. Brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle with sliced almonds.
Bake for 30 minutes.

*note: 16 ounces is too much cream cheese. I would recommend only using 8 (1 pkg.) or 10-12 ounces (1 ½ pkgs.).

Simple Chinese Chicken

I know this chicken isn't really from China but it is really simple and these are ingredients that are usually in the cupboard. I served it over rice, it makes a lot of yummy sauce. And I served it with corn. I know, not very exciting but it was an easy meal. The recipe says to cook it in the oven but I put mine in the slow-cooker and that worked well too. Paige

Ingredients:
Combine the following then pour over chicken:
3/4 c ketchup
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c soy sauce
2 Tbs white vinegar
1 Tbs instant onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp seasoning salt

6-8 chicken pieces (I only used 5 frozen breasts because that was what I could fit in my cooker.)
Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours, turn chicken halfway through.