Quick and Easy Stir-fry

Stir-Fry's a great way to use vegetables you may toss out. My stir-fry dishes are never the same because I like using different vegetables each time. Whatever's in the refrigerator goes in. This time, I had a variety of vegetables: celery, onions, red bell pepper, mushrooms, garlic, and fresh ginger. Day-old rice is best, but I often cook the rice in chicken stock about 30 minutes before cooking the vegetables. The end result is always tasty and delicious! You can find this recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

A great day for comfort food

I knew I wanted to cook some beans and another side dish for dinner. I had some ham hocks in the freezer and lots of celery, onions, and garlic. So, it was settled. I cooked a pot of Great Northern beans with turkey sausage and ham hocks. To quote Rachael Ray; it was "delish!"
I soaked the beans overnight, drained them, put them back in the pot, then covered them with more water. I rinsed one ham hock then added it to the beans with sliced turkey sausages, diced celery, onions, and garlic, and a few seasonings.
And, to go with this dish, were some delicious Yams (a.k.a. sweet potatoes) a friend shared with me. I baked them about 40 minutes then let them cool before slicing them. Then, I lightly buttered a glass baking dish and added the potatoes. I made a simple syrup mixture I poured over the potatoes and baked them about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. These were also "delish!"
You can find my Great Northern beans and baked Sweet Potatoes (Candied Yams) recipe in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends" ($8.95) available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.

Bertolli Pasta Sauce lacks flavor

I've tried several pasta sauces over the years and liked most of them, until now. I was very disappointed in the Bertolli Tomato and Basil sauce I tried for the first time. Though the sauce was thick, rich, and loaded with chunks of tomato and basil, the flavor was just average. I cooked a mixture of ground beef and ground turkey before adding a jar of the sauce and added some sliced mushrooms and some sliced turkey sausages. I let the sauce simmer about 20 minutes and served it over cooked spaghetti noodles. Homemade is always better, but when you're in a hurry, jar sauce will do. But, not this one!

Baked Chicken with 98% Fat Free cream soup

Deciding what to cook for dinner can be a challenge. But, after checking what's in your kitchen, the decision becomes easy. I was debating over a pasta or chicken dish. I decided on baked chicken with vegetables and 98% fat free cream of chicken soup. My mother said she uses 98% fat free soup all the time, so I thought I'd give it a try. I wasn't aware my mother had used 98% fat free cream soup after eating some of her delicious chicken she cooked in the crock pot. Though lighter and with less calories than regular cream soups, it doesn't lack flavor.
I still seasoned the chicken with about 1/4 tsp (each) of salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, chicken seasoning, and garlic salt, and about 1/4 cup of white wine. I let the chicken marinade overnight, then added about 1 cup of chopped celery and 1/2 cup of onions. Then, I spread a can of 98% fat free cream of chicken soup on top and baked in the oven for 1 hour at 350 degrees. It's a light, delicious meal your family will love.
You can find recipes like this in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends," $8.95) available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com.
Everyone who's purchased my cookbook seems to have a favorite recipe (or two). A friend recently purchased a copy last weekend and loves the cookbook because she wants to try new recipes. Another person who purchased my cookbook liked the cover photo and the recipes, too. I hope everyone enjoys making the recipes as much as I do. Have fun in the kitchen.

Ground Beef with Okra, Corn and Tomatoes

This is another one of my favorite, one-pot dishes that's ready in minutes. It features some of my favorite vegetables: okra, corn, and tomatoes. Use ground beef, ground turkey, or a mixture of both. I like to add a half cup of tomato sauce with a can of diced tomatoes for more tomato flavor. And, be sure to add some cayenne pepper to give this dish an extra burst of flavor. You can find this recipe and others in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends", $8.95 available at IUniverse.com, Barnes&Noble.com, and Amazon.com. Enjoy!

A meal for the Oscars

I enjoyed watching the Oscars while dining on one of my favorite meals: chicken casserole. It's simple, light, and delicious. This time, I prepared it in my crock pot and let the dish cook on low for almost six hours instead of baking it in the oven. And, I enjoyed my chicken casserole with a glass of Charles Shaw Nouveau. This wine is usually only available during the holidays at Trader Joe's. But to my surprise, I spotted several bottles yesterday while I was shopping at my local Trader Joe's in San Jose. Normally, I have a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, or Riesling with this dish, but I had a taste for some red wine. You can find my chicken casserole recipe and other recipes for main dishes and desserts in my cookbook, "Everyday Comfort Foods with Family and Friends," ($8.95) available at IUniverse.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes&Noble.com. You may also purchase a copy from me directly by email: lorgrant@att.net.

Stir up this Stir-fry!

I love trying new recipes. I found this stir-fry recipe in the Sunday paper a few weeks ago and liked it immediately because it of the pineapples and broccoli. I followed the recipe but added a few extra seasonings. I'll definitely make this tasty, colorful dish again!


Pineapple Dragon Stir-Fry

2 cups MINUTE White Rice, uncooked
1 can (20 Oz.) pineapple chunks
1/2 cup water
1 Tbsp. low sodium soy sauce, divided
2 Tbsps. cornstarch, divided
3/4 to 1 tsp. crushed red pepper, optional
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into strips
2 Tbsps. vegetable oil
2 cups broccoli florets
3/4 cup red bell pepper chunks
1 small carrot, thinly sliced diagonally
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger

Prepare rice according to package directions.
Drain pineapple: reserve 1/4 cup juice.
Stir together, in small bowl, reserved juice, water, 1/3 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, red pepper (if desired), and garlic powder, set aside.
Combine chicken with remaining 1 tablespoon each cornstarch and soy sauce, in medium bowl. Heat oil in wok or non-stick large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add broccoli, bell pepper, carrot and ginger; stir-fry 4 minutes or until just tender. Add reserved soy sauce mixture; cook, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce boils and thickens. Stir in pineapple chunks and heat through. Serve over rice. Serves 4 to 6.

Visit minuterice.com for more exciting recipes.

Note: I added a few teaspoons of chicken bouillon seasoning, 1/2 tsp. Chinese 5 Spice, and used a few teaspoons of fresh garlic (minced) with 1/4 tsp. of garlic powder. I served the dish over hot long-grain rice. This meal goes well with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.