chicken parm casserole

ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

hot red pepper flakes, to taste

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 cups marinara sauce

1/4 cup chopped basil

8 oz mozzarella, shredded

4 oz Parmesan, grated

2-3 tbsp italian breading

directions

combine all ingredients except mozzarella and spread over chicken.

sprinkle mozzarella over it all.

bake on 400 for 30-45 minutes.

cilantro lime chicken and rice

Cilantro lime chicken 

Ingredients

One 24-ounce jar medium or mild salsa

Juice from one lime

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

One 1.25-oz. package taco seasoning

2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped (optional)

Directions: Add 4-6 boneless chicken breast halves (completely defrosted) to the slow cooker and coat with the salsa mixture. Cook on low 6 hours.

Cilantro Lime Rice
ingredients
1 cup extra long grain rice or basmati rice--I used Uncle Ben's 90sec
1/2 lime, juice of
1 tsp salt
3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro

directions
cook the rice...add the other ingredients. delightful :)

spinach mac'n'cheese muffins & crock pot baked potatoes

Spinach Mac'n'Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:

4 c cooked whole wheat or high fiber macaroni

1 T butter

1 T flour

1 c skim milk

1 garlic clove, minced

3 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

3 oz Gruyere cheese, shredded

1 egg

1 egg white

1 (10 oz) package of frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, drained and patted dry (or you could use 1 cup cooked fresh spinach)

Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

1.    Pre-heat the oven to 400. Lightly mist a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.

2.    In a small sauce pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, mixing it into the butter until thick. Stir in the milk and garlic and raise the temp to bring the mixture to just under a boil. Add the cheese and whisk mixture together until thoroughly combined into a cheese sauce.

3.    Remove the cheese sauce from heat and then mix in the egg and egg white (binding agents) until combined.

4.    In a large bowl, combine the pasta, spinach, cheese sauce, salt and pepper and mix together. Spoon the mixture evenly into the cups of your prepared muffin tin.

5.    Bake for 10-15 minutes until the tops slightly brown. Let cool 5 minutes before removing from muffin tin. (If you want it to be an actual muffin shape, you have to let it sit longer than that.)


Crock Pot Baked Potatoes
Wrap potatoes in aluminum foil and cook on low for 8 hours. 

last week's recipes

so i tried the whole week menu plan thing...and i failed...twice. but then last week it seemed to work out, so i have hope for this coming week as well :) there will be recipes for the ones that were made from scratch or at least scratch-ish.

meal #1: spinach and feta salad, brown rice, jerk pork.

salad: feta crumbles with mediterranean spices w/ baby spinach

entree: pre-made stir fry from publix and frozen brown rice from trader joe's

meal #2: rotisserie chicken, crock pot baked potatoes, and spinach mac'n'cheese.

meal #3: cilantro lime chicken and rice.

meal #4: beef stroganoff.

....i forgot to take a picture

meal #5: chicken parm casserole

meal #6: homemade chinese takeout.

frozen egg rolls from trader joe's, frozen brown rice from trader joe's, frozen stir fry veggies from trader joe's, frozen mandarin orange chicken from trader joe's

saturday brunch: blueberry white chocolate chip waffles

one bowl vanilla cupcakes for two with buttercream icing

these cupcakes were AMAZING. and so incredibly simple. a great little way to celebrate wrapping up my first semester :) i found the recipe here. it's the perfect ending to a lovely dinner.


cupcakes

ingredients

1 egg white
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c flour
1/4 heaping tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 1/2 tbsp milk

directions
In a bowl, add egg white and sugar and whisk until combined. Add in vanilla and melted butter and stir until mixed. Add flour, baking powder and salt and stir until smooth. Stir in milk. Divide batter equally between the 2 cupcake liners. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes, or until cake is set. Let cool completely, then frost as desired. 

buttercream icing

ingredients

1/2 stick butter

4-6 tbsp. powdered sugar

1 tsp. milk

directions

beat the ingredients with a mixer. the ingredient measurements up there are a little bogus. i started with 2 heaping tablespoons with a 1/2 stick butter and a little bit of milk, but i keep adding stuff until i get it to where i want it.