Tag Archives: quick meal

Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , ,
Shrimp and broccoli stir-fry.

Shrimp and broccoli stir-fry.

I really like to make stir-fries for several reasons:  they’re quick to cook, and they can be very nutritious with all the vegetables  you can add in to them.  Also they are a way to use up small amounts of ingredients you may have on hand, and you can vary the protein component every time you make it.

This week I made a stir-fry of predominantly broccoli and shrimp which are a popular duo.  But I also added scallions and carrots, all in a soy sauce base to round out this low-fat recipe.  Served over brown rice, it was quick, colorful, nutritious, and delicious, not to mention economical.   You can’t ask for better than that,  in my opinion.

STIR-FRIED SHRIMP AND BROCCOLI

Yield:  4 servings

Ingredients:

Not many ingredients.

Not many ingredients.

  • 1 pound fresh or frozen medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup soy low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar or 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
  • 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1  tsp. sugar, or 1 tsp. honey
  • 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup thinly bias-sliced carrot
  • 1/3 cup sliced scallions
  • 2 cups hot cooked rice, preferably, brown rice
  • 1/4 cup cashews or sliced almonds, optional

Directions:

1.  Thaw shrimp if frozen.  Peel and devein shrimp  Pat dry with paper towels.  Set aside.

2.  In a small bowl combine water, soy sauce, vinegar, cornstarch, and sugar; set aside

3.  Heat oil in a wok or a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook and stir garlic in hot oil for 15 seconds.  Add broccoli, carrot and scallions.  Cook and stir for 3 minutes.  Remove vegetables  from pan with a slotted spoon.

Lightly cook the broccoli and carrots and set aside.

Lightly cook the broccoli and carrots and set aside.

4.  Stir soy sauce mixture.  Add to skillet; cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.  Add shrimp; cook about 3 minutes or until shrimp are opaque.

Precook the shrimp and scallions and set aside.

Precook the shrimp and scallions and set aside.

Return vegetables to skillet; heat through.

Add everything back into the skillet or wok.

Add everything back into the skillet or wok.

Serve with rice and sprinkle with cashews or almonds, if using.

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Serve over brown rice and enjoy!

Serve over brown rice and enjoy!

Lobster Rolls

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals, Sandwichs and tagged with , , , , , ,
Perfect Lobster Rolls

Perfect Lobster Rolls

A lobster roll is a simple thing;  basically it’s lobster meat stuffed into a warm bun.  The quintessential New England sandwich, it’s the street food of the coast, served in high and low level restaurants, lobster pounds, seafood shacks, supermarkets, gas stations, and home kitchens.  Purists would insist that the “less is more” approach is the only way to prepare it.  Meaning that lobster meat only, either cold with a little mayonnaise to hold the meat together, or warmed in melted butter, and served in a New England-style hot dog bun that has been toasted is the best way to enjoy the sweetness of the lobster meat.

For a lobster roll to be true to it’s classic roots, it should not contain a lot of extra ingredients;  you can bend the lobster-roll rules a little, but you shouldn’t break them.  This recipe, I think, meets the standards for the classic sandwich, with some minimal additions,  and is very tasty indeed.   If you purchase whole lobsters and have them steamed by the fish monger, preparation involves cracking the lobster to retrieve the meat, and adding celery, green onions, and seasoned mayonnaise.  They are easy to make at home and come together in a snap.IMG_4864

With lobster roll in hand you can vicariously meander along the coastline of New England, traveling down some long narrow road to a harbor, take in the big view, sounds of the seagulls, splash of the waves, hear the rubbing of the fishing boats on the piers, and feel the sand between your toes.   Ahhhhh, heavenly.

I made this meal to welcome my visitors from North Carolina, one of whom had never been north to New England.  I tried to put together a typical summertime meal that, in addition to the lobster rolls, included corn on the cob and a mixed green salad.  For dessert I served my Cracker Jack Sundaes.  He was captivated!!  Why don’t you try one?

PERFECT LOBSTER ROLLS

YIELD:  Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

  • 1/3 cup chopped celery

    lobster, celery, scallions, lemon, and mayonaise dressing

    lobster, celery, scallions, lemon, and mayonnaise dressing

  • 1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 3 Tbsp. canola mayonnaise
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp. ground red pepper
  • 3/4 – 1 pound lobster meat, steamed and chopped
  • 4  top-split hot dog buns, toasted

Preparation:

1.  Combine all ingredients except the buns in a large bowl, stirring well;   Cover and chill a bit.  Chilled, but not quite cold is best.

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2.  Split the buns, brush with some melted butter and slap on the griddle to cook to golden-brown.  Then divide the lobster mixture evenly among the buns and serve.

buns toasting on the griddle

buns toasting on the griddle

A toasted bun, filled to the top with luscious lobster salad.

A toasted bun, filled to the top with luscious lobster salad.

3.  Serving:  a pickle on top is OK,  so is a lettuce leaf, a sprinkle of celery salt or paprika, and maybe a squeeze of lemon or a wedge of lemon on the side.  Add a few crispy chips or onions rings and you’ve got it all.

My meal consisted of lobster roll, salad, and corn on the cob.

My meal consisted of lobster roll, salad, and corn on the cob.

SOURCE:    Cooking Light

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Appetizers, Quick Meals, Snacks and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Zucchini Pizza Bites

Zucchini Pizza Bites

Here it is Theme Thursday, and I have another recipe for you that makes use of zucchini, this time in a slightly different way.  These little bites of zucchini with  pizza toppings  treat the zucchini like the crust of your favorite pizza so there are fewer calories because you’ve eliminated the carbs!   Small enough for just a bite or two they could be appetizers, snacks, something to go with soup or a salad, just about any way you want to use them.  They are gluten-free , low cal, and perfect for a meatless meal.

So cute, and you can enjoy them guilt-free.

So cute, and you can enjoy them guilt-free.

If you have a big zucchini to use, slice it straight across and get fairly large rounds,  if you have a smaller zucchini, cut it on the diagonal for large ovals.  Top them with some sauce, any kind of topping,  basil and melted cheese, or whatever you like on your pizza.  These are a must to try while zucchini is in season and plentiful.

ZUCCHINI PIZZA BITES

Yield:   Quantities listed are for 1 serving.  Increase as desired to make more.

Ingredients:

  • 6 slices large zucchini, 1/4-inch thick ( or 1 medium zucchini, cut on the diagonal)
  • olive oil, or olive oil spray
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 Tbsp. marinara sauce
  • 1/4 cup crumbled, cooked sausage, or other toppings
  • 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Directions:

1.  Cut zucchini about 1/4-inch thick.  Brush or spray both sides lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

Cut zucchini into circles or ovals about 1/4-inch thick.

Cut zucchini into circles or ovals about 1/4-inch thick.

2.  Broil or grill the zucchini for about 2 minutes on each side.  Top with sauce, topping of choice and cheese and broil for an additional minute or two.  Be careful not to burn the cheese.

The ones that are pictured here are topped with fried peppers and onions and some have crumbles of sausage on them.  I’ve also made them with a slice of pepperoni.  All equally good.  You can’t go wrong with these.

So cute, and you can enjoy them guilt-free.

So cute, and you can enjoy them guilt-free.

SOURCE:   slightly adapted from Skinny Taste

Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken Burgers

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , ,
Jalapeño cheddar chicken burgers with guacamole.

Jalapeño cheddar chicken burgers with guacamole.

Folks, I’m doing you all a hugh favor by introducing you to these incredible burgers.  While I love all the recipes I post on this site, once in a while a recipe stands out from all the others and really needs some extra bragging about.  These burgers deserve all the attention I’m giving them.

First of all they are cooked outside on the grill,  and during the summer we want to make use of the grill as much as possible.  Secondly they’re made of chicken;  lean, low in fat, but moist and very flavorful.  Third,  they are very easy to make, but a few simple additions take them to a whole new level.  A burger is not always just a burger, this one is a burger in fancy clothes!

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One of the additions we will be using to “dress” our burgers is Guacamole.  This just about guarantees that they will be awesome, but besides that there’s jalapeño pepper, cheddar cheese, and cilantro.  These could very easily replace the traditional beef burgers on my menus for the remainder of the summer months.  Give them a try and see if you don’t agree.

JALAPEÑO CHEDDAR CHICKEN BURGERS WITH GUACAMOLE

Yield:  serves 4 – 5

Ingredients:

  • oil, for oiling the grill grates
  • 1  1/2  lb. ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
  • 1/3 cup minced fresh cilantro
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 jalapeño, seeded, cored and minced  (adjust amount to your desired level of heat)
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. paprikaIMG_4585
  • juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
  • 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper

To serve:

  • Burger buns**
  • Guacamole

Optional toppings:

  • Salsa
  • Sour Cream
  • Minced fresh cilantro
  • Sliced tomatoes

1.  Heat a grill to medium-high heat.  Oil the grates to prevent the burgers from sticking.  To make the burgers, combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix lightly, just until evenly combined.  Form the mixture into 4-5 patties.

2.  Cook the burgers on the heated grill, about 3 – 4 minutes per side, flipping once.  A few minutes before the burgers are finished cooking, top with sliced or shredded cheddar cheese,  (if desired).  Cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 160*F.  Remove the burgers to a plate and let rest a few minutes before serving.  Assemble with burger buns, guacamole, salsa, and minced cilantro as desired.

Fresh off the grill, ready to finish getting "dressed".

Fresh off the grill, ready to finish getting “dressed”.

Do we love these burgers? Oh, yeah!

Do we love these burgers? Oh, yeah!

**When you are making fancy pants burgers like these they really deserve to be served on a good quality bun.  It makes such a difference in the total enjoyment of what you have created.

P. S.   If you’re more into turkey burgers than chicken you could easily substitute ground turkey here and still have a fabulous burger!

SOURCE:  What’s Gabby Cooking?

Pimiento Cheese Omelet

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Breakfast, Brunch, Carolyn's Originals, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , ,
Pimiento-Cheese Omelet

Pimiento-Cheese Omelet

You know those open-faced pimiento cheese BLT sandwiches I wrote about here?  Well, there was just a tad of cheese mixture left over, and not being one to throw out or waste food, I put it into the fridge.

So now, here it is Sunday morning, and I’m making an omelet,  when out of the blue I thought of the pimiento cheese in the fridge.  Bingo!!  I’ll  put it into the omelet.  Instead of putting the cheese into the egg mixture, I partially cooked the egg/omelet and while the center was still wet dropped gobs of cheese on it.  Then folded it onto itself, covered the pan and let the heat finish cooking the egg and melt the cheese.  WOW!  moments of genius come at the most unexpected times! 😀

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This was so good it was incredible.  The cheese was just the right amount so that it did not overpower the delicate egg, yet added an extra wonderful flavor.  I think it might be worth having a small tub of pimiento cheese mixture in the refrigerator at all times just for such moments.  When genius strikes, one needs to be ready!!

PIMIENTO CHEESE OMELET

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 2 or 3 eggs, beaten lightly with a whisk,
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 – 2 tsp. water
  • 1 – 2 tsp. butter
  • 2 Tbsp. pimiento cheese

Lightly beat the eggs with a whisk in a small bowl.  Add salt, pepper and a little water.  Mix well.

In a medium skillet, over medium heat, melt butter.  Swirl pan to coat.  Pour in the egg mixture and allow cooking to begin,  As the edges become set, lift gently and allow the liquid egg to run underneath at the edges.

When as much liquid egg has “run under”, but the top is still wet,  spoon small dabs of pimiento cheese over the top.  Then lift one side of egg and fold to the middle, lift again, and fold onto itself.  Turn off the heat, cover for a short time and allow the cheese to melt.

Fold the omelet in thirds and let the heat melt the cheese filling.

Fold the omelet in thirds and let the heat melt the cheese filling.

Serve warm with toast and breakfast meat or with a salad for a dinner entree .

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SOURCE:   a Carolyn Original

Soba Noodles with Miso-Glazed Chicken (or Tofu) and Vegetables

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,
Soba noodles with miso-glazed chicken and vegetables.

Soba noodles with miso-glazed chicken and vegetables.

My first question is–what are soba noodles?  Uninformed as I am I decided to find out, and for anyone else who also doesn’t know,  I’ll share what I learned.

Soba noodles are a traditional flat Japanese noodle made from buckwheat flour and wheat flour and used widely in Japanese cookery. (Dictionery.com)  Called a “whole grain”, buckwheat is actually the fruit of the buckwheat plant.  The plants are harvested and dried, the fruits hulled and then ground into flour.  Soba noodles look like flat spaghetti and are usually light beige in color, have a somewhat nutty flavor, and are shelf stable like other pastas.  They should be stored in a cool, dry place.  You generally cook these noodles the same way you cook any other kind of pasta; in a large pot of boiling salted water.

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A few years ago it was difficult to find Asian noodles except in an Asian market, but happily, most large supermarkets now carry them.  I was fortunate in finding them at the market where I shop as fresh soba that only needed to be heated in the microwave.

Once I learned what soba noodles are and then actually found them, I was ready to try making this recipe.  I must say that both Mr. D. and I loved it and we ate most of the whole amount that is meant to serve 4.  There was only a small amount left over and we both wanted it for lunch the next day.  (He won!)

SOBA NOODLES WITH MISO-GLAZED CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES

Servings:   about 4

Ingredients:

Chicken and all the seasonings are ready.

Chicken and all the seasonings are ready.

  • 2  1/2 Tablespoons canola oil, divided
  • 2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. white miso
  • 1 Tbsp. minced peeled ginger
  • 1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1 Tbsp. lower-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
  • 1 tsp. dark sesame oil
  • 4 ounces uncooked soba noodles
  • 1 pound chicken breast tenders  (14-ounce pkg. extra-firm tofu, may be substituted)
  • 6 ounces mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 pound asparagus spears, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

1.  Combine 1 Tbsp. canola oil and next 7 ingredients (through sesame oil) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.

2.  Cook noodles according to package directions; drain and rinse.  Combine noodles and 1/4 cup miso mixture in a bowl; toss to coat.

3.  Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add 1 Tbsp. canola oil to pan; swirl to coat.  Cut any large pieces of chicken crosswise into smaller pieces. (Cut tofu crosswise into 4 (1-inch thick) slices.  Add to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned.  Add 1 Tbsp. miso mixture to pan; toss to coat.

This is the tofu version, courtesy of Cooking Light.

This is the tofu version, courtesy of Cooking Light.

4.  Remove chicken/tofu from pan; keep warm.  Add remaining 1 1/2 tsp. canola oil to pan; swirl to coat.  Add mushrooms and asparagus to pan; sauté 4 minutes or until tender.

Sauteing the veggies and the miso mixture.

Sauteing the veggies and the miso mixture.

Add remaining 2 Tablespoons miso mixture to pan;  toss to coat.  Sprinkle with green onions.  Arrange 1/2 cup noodle mixture in each bowl.  Top with 1/2 cup vegetable mixture and chicken or tofu.

IMG_4426

Soba noodles with miso-glazed chicken and vegetables.

Soba noodles with miso-glazed chicken and vegetables.

SOURCE:  COOKING LIGHT

Hoisin Barbecued Chicken and Broccoli

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Hoisin BBQ Chicken and Broccoli with Rice Pilaf.

Hoisin BBQ Chicken and Broccoli with Rice Pilaf.

This holiday weekend is pretty well accepted as the start of the summer cook-out season, and we are no exception.  On Saturday we cooked out at home, and on Sunday we attended a family cookout.  After the parade today there will be another cookout.  Of course I always bring along a variety of goodies to these events.  This week I’ll be telling you about my contributions, but to start the week off I’d like to share with you this recipe for Hoisin Barbecued Chicken and Broccoli.

The flavors in this dish will remind you of Chinese takeout, but my goodness, so much better!.  But you’ll have to make it to believe it.  The Hoisin Barbecue Marinade is addictive, it will have you licking your fingers.  You may want to double it to serve as a dipping sauce on the side or to drizzle over some rice.  I’m sure it would also be delicious with grilled pork or shrimp.  The chicken cooks quickly because you pound boneless chicken breasts out to about 1/2-inch thickness.  In my version I used skinless, boneless thighs and just pounded them a little for uniform thickness.

HOISIN BARBECUED CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI

Yield:   Makes about 1 1/2 cup marinade,   serves 4

Boneless thighs, broccoli and all the seasonings for the marinade.

Boneless thighs, broccoli and all the seasonings for the marinade.

Ingredients for marinade:

  • 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 cup barbecue sauce (any kind you like)
  • 2 Tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4  cups broccoli florets
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds

1.  In a small bowl, combine all of the marinade ingredients and whisk to blend.

2.  Place the broccoli florets in a zip-top plastic bag and add 1/2 cup of the marinade.  Seal the bag, toss to coat, and set aside to marinate.  Place the chicken in another zip-top bag and pour in remaining marinade.  Seal the bag, toss to coat, and marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes.

3.  Prepare a hot fire in your grill.  Spray a grill wok or other grill pan with cooking spray.

4.  Place the wok in the kitchen sink.  Pour the broccoli and sauce into the grill wok and let drain.  (You can reuse the marinade from the broccoli, if desired.)  Place the grill wok on a foil-lined baking sheet.  Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on the baking sheet beside the wok.  Discard the chicken marinade.  Take the baking sheet out to the grill.

Broccoli goes on first to get a head-start on cooking.

Broccoli goes on first to get a head-start on cooking.

5.  Place the wok on the grill and close the lid for about 2 minutes.  Open the grill and toss the broccoli with wooden paddles or tongs  several times while grilling, for a total of 12 – 15 minutes.   Place the chicken on the grill and cook for  2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side.

Chicken pieces browning up nicely.

Chicken pieces browning up nicely.

This is Mr.D. doing his "grill" thing.

This is Mr.D. doing his “grill” thing.

When everything is done, place the food on the baking sheet and bring into the kitchen to serve.

6.  Place broccoli in a bowl, sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds and toss.  Arrange the chicken on a platter around the broccoli.  This meal is nice with a serving of lemon rice, or other kind of rice pilaf.

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SOURCE:  Weeknight Grilling with the BBQ Queens

Pad Thai

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Main Dish, Quick Meals and tagged with , , , , , , ,
Pad Thai with Shrimp

Pad Thai with Shrimp

Recently I was in the mood for some Thai cooking so I decided to make this dish that I had seen made on the Food Network;  Sandra Lee’s Money Saving Meals.  It is extremely easy to make and quite tasty, coming very close in flavor to what I have eaten at a Thai restaurant located near us.  It is the kind of recipe that is very flexible, leaving you lots of room for additions and substitutions.  For example instead of the shrimp you could use chicken or tofu,  add green peas for some additional vegetables and color,  use thin spaghetti instead of rice noodles, and add peanut butter to the sauce if you like more peanut flavor or leave it out completely.  The spice level can also be adjusted by using more or less chile sauce.

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This meal could be completely vegetarian by using tofu, and vegetable broth in place of the chicken broth called for.  Although the recipe’s yield is for  four servings, my husband and I ate all of it at one sitting.  It was so good, in fact, we devoured it.  I really like this recipe for its versatility and I am sure I will be making it again.

Recipe:   PAD THAI

Yield:   4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1  (8-ounce) package rice noodles

    Having everything prepped in advance means this dish goes together in a snap.

    Having everything prepped in advance means this dish goes together in a snap. (Pretend you see 2 eggs here!)

  • 2 Tablespoons canola oil, divided
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 pound medium shrimp, shelled and deveined
  • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon chile sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon lime juice
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped garlic
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 3 scallions,  thinly sliced
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped, for garnish ( I did not use these.)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil and turn off the heat.  Add the rice noodles and let them soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.  Drain.

2.  In a wok or large saute pan, over high heat, add 1 Tablespoon oil.  When it is hot, add the eggs and cook until they are firm.  Remove them from the pan and let them cool a bit.  Roughly chop them and set aside.

3.  in the same pan, add the shrimp and sauté just until pink and cooked through. Set aide with the egg.

3.  In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, fish sauce, chile sauce, lime juice, garlic, and broth.  Set aside.

4.  Add the remaining 1 Tablespoon oil to the pan along with the carrots, scallions, and bean sprouts and stir fry 1 minute.

Stir fry vegetables, then add noodles, shrimp and egg.

Stir frying the vegetables.

Add the reserved eggs, shrimp, noodles and sauce, stirring to coat everything completely.

Add noodles, shrimp and egg.

Add noodles, shrimp, eggs, and sauce.

Cook for another minute or so to warm everything through.  Serve garnished with peanuts and cilantro.

A delicious and very enjoyable meal.

A delicious and very enjoyable meal.

SOURCE:   Sanda Lee’s  Thrifty Thai,  Food Network

Pineapple Chicken (or Turkey) Salad

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Dressings, Sauces, Quick Meals, Salads, Sandwichs and tagged with , , , , , ,
Pineapple chicken salad

Pineapple turkey salad

This is one of my favorite ways to make use of left-over chicken or turkey.  Ordinarily we would associate cranberries with chicken or turkey, but here the fruit is pineapple.  You might think it rather odd, but trust me it really works.  The sweet bits of pineapple provide a counterpoint to the other savory ingredients.  Once this salad is made you have several options about how to serve it.

Second-time-around turkey makes a delicious salad.

Second-time-around turkey makes a delicious salad.

The obvious way to eat it would be as a sandwich on a crusty roll,  or you could serve it as part of a salad plate as I have done here, or it makes a very nice wrap, either using a tortilla or just a large lettuce leaf.  The recipe is quick to make, and seems like a perfect light meal for springtime or any special occasion you may have coming up.  I hope you enjoy it!

The original recipe called for chicken, but I substituted turkey as that is what I had left over.

PINEAPPLE CHICKEN SALAD

turkey salad on romaine, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and pineapple.

turkey salad on romaine, with tomatoes, cucumbers, and pineapple.

Yield:   about 6 servings

Ingredients:

  • 2  1/2 cups shredded or diced chicken  (or turkey)
  • 1/2 cup coarsely shredded carrots
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped celery
  • 3/4 cup diced fresh pineapple
  • 1/3 cup low-fat mayonnaise
  • 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded chicken, carrots, green onions, celery and pineapple .

In another small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, yogurt, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  Stir well to combine.

Add dressing to chicken mixture and stir well to coat and evenly combine.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

A light, refreshing springtime lunch.

A light, refreshing springtime lunch.

SOURCE:    Cooking Light

Apple, Cheese and Bacon Quesadillas

Posted by deliciousonadollar in Brunch, Quick Meals, Sandwichs, Snacks and tagged with , , , , , , , ,
Apples, bacon and cheese quesadillas. A lovely combination.

Apples, bacon and cheese quesadillas. A lovely combination.

Are you a recipe clipper?  I think that anyone who enjoys cooking is always looking for new recipes, and magazines are  good resources for recipes.  I count myself in that group of cooks who are  always “on the hunt”.  In fact I tear out so many recipes that I have a system for organizing them and deciding which ones are keepers and which ones don’t make the cut.

For anyone who might benefit from my system,  this is what I do:

1.  Read magazine and “dog-ear” pages with a recipe that interests me.

Fold over pages that have recipes that interest me.

Fold over pages that have recipes that interest me.

2.Before discarding the magazine, look again at those pages and decide if I want to try the recipe.  If yes, then I tear out the page, and it goes into a pile with other torn-out pages.

The pile of torn-out pages grows large.

The pile of torn-out pages grows large.

3.  When the pile gets precariously high, I designate an afternoon or three?, and go through them all.  If I’m still interested in any of the recipes I trim them more carefully, and then file in folders that are named in broad categories, like bars, cookies, desserts, soups, chicken, etc.

My file of files.

My file of files.

4.  When I want to make something new, or have ingredients on hand to use, I go to a specific folder to see what’s there that I might want to try out.

5.  Then I make the recipe to test it out.  If it meets my requirements such as did we like it,  was it straightforward and easy to prepare, have readily available ingredients, reasonable cost to make,  cooked in a reasonable time frame?  Then it gets mounted into a notebook as a “keeper”, that will enter my cycle of recipes; or become a go-to when I want to make something special.

I have several afternoon's work to do!

I have several afternoons’ work to do!

I have written all the above with tongue-in-cheek, as I can imagine you are thinking to yourself (or saying out loud even) “what, is she crazy?”   Well, yes. a little.  According to the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment Test I am a pointy-head sequential in the grand scheme of things, and detailed organization is one of my traits.   Ha-ha-ha!    🙂

OK, so what does all this have to do with today’s recipe?  The story is this:  on Saturday, my husband went out on an errand, and before he left, he asked me what we would be having for lunch.  I replied that I didn’t know, because my supplies were pretty low, and we had eaten up all the leftovers.  But I reassured him  that “I’ll think of something”.  So while he was out I consulted my folder labeled ” Pizza and Sandwiches”, and in there found a recipe for Apple and Brie Quesadillas that I had been wanting to try.

The recipe called for a Granny Smith apple, Brie cheese and flour tortillas.  Now, I didn’t have any Brie to work with but I did have some cheddar, and some Monterey Jack.  So I improvised, using those cheeses,  a Rome apple instead of Granny Smith, and added some crumbled bacon to the mix to create my recipe for Apple, Cheese and Bacon Quesadillas.  When my husband came home he said, ” I see it didn’t take you long to think of something”.    They were very good, we liked them very much,  I’ll make them again.  End of Story!

Makes a satisfying light lunch.

Makes a satisfying light lunch.

Included here is the original recipe for Apple and Brie Quesadillas, and how I modified it.

APPLE, BRIE  (and BACON)  QUESADILLAS

SERVES   2   Adjust amounts accordingly for more servings.

  • 1  Granny Smith apple  (or other firm apple), thinly sliced
  • 4  teaspoons olive oil, divided
  • 4   8-inch flour tortillas  (I  used  2  10-inch tortillas)
  • 8 ounces Brie cheese, sliced, rind removed  ( I used a combination of grated cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses, about 1 cup )
  • 2 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled  (my addition)
  • 1 Tablespoon whole-grain mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup

1.   Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat.  Toss the apple slices with 2 teaspoons olive oil and cook, turning occasionally, until marked and tender, 3 to 4 minutes.

Spread apples on grill pan and cook till barely tender.

Spread apples on grill pan and cook till barely tender.

Try to get some nice grill marks on the apples.

Try to get some nice grill marks on the apples.

2.  Lay the tortillas on a cutting board.  Top each with half the apple, half the bacon, and half the cheese, placing the filling on only half of  each tortilla.  Then fold the tortillas in half to cover the filling.

Spread a layer of apples and bacon on half the tortilla.

Spread a layer of apples and bacon on half the tortilla.

Top with shredded cheeses.

Top with shredded cheeses.

3.  Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  (I sprayed mine with olive oil spray and cooked them on the grill pan I used for the apples.)  Working in batches, cook the quesadillas until golden brown and the cheese melts, about 2 minutes per side.

4.   Meanwhile, mix the mustard and maple syrup in a small bowl.  Slice each quesadilla into wedges.  Drizzle with the maple-mustard syrup before serving.

Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup.

Serve with a drizzle of maple mustard syrup.

SOURCE:   modified from a recipe in Food Network Magazine,  April 2012