FN Great Easy Meals prt 3: Foil Packet Fish with Creamy Noodles and Roasted Veggies

Foil Packet Fish

Serves: 2

2 T Olive Oil or more

1 Cup of Veggies of your choice(any combo):

Cherry Tomatoes, halved

Mushrooms, sliced

Garden Peppers, julienned

Onion, sliced

2 Salmon Fillets

1 T Lemon Juice

Splash of White Wine

S&P, and a few dashes of Basil.

1. Preheat Oven or Grill to 450 deg. Lay out foil to form packets. Add Oil to each packet and mound Veggies in the center of each packet.
2. Place Salmon over Veggies. Drizzle with Lemon Juice and Wine. Season to taste and seal packets leaving enough room for packet to steam. Cook for 15 mins or until done.

I happened to buy a few too many peppers this week and they were starting to get soft. So I devised the plan to roast a few and freeze the rest. In a foil lined pan drizzled with Olive Oil I placed julienned Peppers ( Yellow, Red and Orange), a few chopped Onions, quartered Mushrooms, a hefty amount of garlic, a few good shakes of dried Basil all in the pan. Covered the container with foil and baked (aka roasted) them at 400 deg for 15 to 20 mins, or until tender. While roasting, I started a pot of water to cook a few noodles. When both were done I opened the packet and allowed to cool while I rinsed the noodles in cool water and returned them to the pot. Then I add a half of a handful of Cheddar Monterey Cheese, 3 good shakes grated Parmesan Cheese, and a half of a handful of each Pepper Jack and Mozzarella Cheese, 2 T of each heavy Whipping Cream and Milk. Added the roasted Veggies and stirred until all Cheese was melted and topped with S&P.  

FN Great Easy Meals prt2: Beer Braised Chx

Why is it that beer is absolutely amazing when cooked in food? Or how about just booze. =] Not to sound like an alcoholic or anything. Here is a quick recipe that is sure to impress the pickiest eater. You can use skinless boneless Chicken for a fast meal, or bone in for an all day simmer.

Beer-Braised Chicken

Time:40 Serves: 4

¼ Lbs Bacon

6 Boneless, skinless Chicken Thighs [Chx tenders would be amazing as well]

S&P

Flour for dredging

1T Olive Oil

1 12 oz Bottle Beer, preferably Brown Ale

1 C frozen Pearl Onions, thawed. Or ½ C Chopped Yellow Onion

½ Lbs Small Red-Skinned Potatoes, halved

2 T whole-grain Mustard

2T packed Brown Sugar

4 Springs Thyme

3 T fresh chopped Parsley

1. Heat stock pot over med-high heat. Add Bacon and cook until browned. Remove Bacon to a paper towel lined plate.
2. Season Chx with S&P and dredge in flour, shaking off the excess. Add Olive Oil to the dripping in pot. Add Chx in batches and cook over med-high heat until golden on the bottom, and sear the opposite side.
3. Add remaining ingredients, including Bacon, and simmer until Chx is fully cooked.

Food Network's Great Easy Meals

I recently purchased a new cookbook and wanted to share my experience and the outcome. Good or Bad. Nobody likes a liar anyways.

This taste just like the wonderful empandas, only without the work. Honestly, don’t be afraid of the raisins. I highly recommend that you do Not omit them.  The raisins will give a sweet flavor that compliments the salty Olives perfectly. Who ever came up with the idea was pure genius.

Turkey or Hamburger Picadillo Sandwiches

4o Mins: Serves 4

3 T Olive Oil +

1 Med Onion

6 Cloves Garlic, Chopped

2 Bay Leaves

1 T Cumin

1 t Chili Powder

½ t ground Allspice

1 ¼ Lbs Turkey or Hamburger

S & P

1 6 oz Can Tomato Paste

2 C Water

1/3 C Raisins

½ C Chopped Pimiento-stuffed Olives, + 2 T Olive Juice

4 Buns

Sliced Avocado, for topping: Optional

1. Heat 3 T Olive Oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add Onion, and Garlic, cook until slightly soft. Add Bay leaves, Cumin, Chili Powder, All Spice, meat and S& P. Brown evenly.
2. Add Tomato Paste and stir until brick red. Add Water, Raisins, Olives and Olive Juice. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook over med heat until thickened, appx 15 mins. Uncover and cook stirring a few more times and season with S&P once again.

On the other hand, the intelligent person who came up with Mushroom Salad was a total flop. This is coming from someone who goes through a package of mushrooms every week. This could possibly be one of those dishes with an acquired taste.