Chicken Tandoori

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chicken-tandoori-recipe/index.html

I have made this a few times and it is SO good and easy! I make the marinade after lunch and let it marinade until dinner.

Chicken Tandoori
Food Network Kitchens

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Ingredients

* 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds)
* Juice of 1 lemon
* Kosher salt
* 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain yogurt
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 1/2 small red onion, roughly chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, smashed
* 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
* 4 teaspoons tomato paste
* 2 teaspoons ground coriander
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
* 1 3/4 teaspoons hot paprika
* 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
* Cooked rice, for serving (optional)

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Make shallow cuts in the chicken thighs with a sharp knife. Toss the chicken with the lemon juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large bowl.

Pulse 2 tablespoons yogurt, the vegetable oil, onion, garlic, ginger, tomato paste, coriander, cumin, 11/2 teaspoons paprika and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor to make a paste. Toss the chicken in the mixture and let marinate 15 minutes.

Place the chicken on a foil-lined broiler pan. Broil, turning once, until slightly charred and a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees F, 5 to 6 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 teaspoon paprika, the cilantro and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Top the chicken with the yogurt sauce and serve with rice, if desired.

Per serving: Calories 237; Fat 9 g (Saturated 2 g); Cholesterol 115 mg; Sodium 1,266 mg; Carbohydrate 8 g; Fiber 2 g; Protein 30 g

Cheesy Pasta

The original name of this is "Cheesy Spirals" but I used Penne pasta, so I changed the name :)  This recipe is so easy and the kids loved, I was so sad I haven't tried it before now!

Ingredients:
16 oz pasta
1 lb ground beef
onion
garlic
28 oz spaghetti sauce
1 10.5oz can cheddar cheese soup, undiluted
italian seasoning
pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cook the pasta until right before "al dente".  Brown the ground beef with some onion and garlic.  Add the spaghetti sauce and cheddar cheese soup.  Stir until it is uniform throughout.  Add the italian seasoning and pepper to taste.  Remove from heat, add 2 cups of mozzarella cheese.  Mix in the pasta and put it into a greased casserole dish.  Bake in the oven at 350* for 30 minutes. 

You can also freeze this before you bake it.  Then thaw it and bake at 350* for 40 minutes.

Next time I'll try throwing in some veggies.

Cola Pork Chops

Sorry, no picture for this one... but I'm sure you wouldn't want to make it if you had seen the picture.  They don't come out looking very pretty but they taste great!

4 pork chops
1 can cola drink (I used Diet Dr Pepper, and it was great!  Just use your drink of choice)
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 - 3 tbsp soy sauce

Put the pork chops into a crock pot, then add the rest of the ingredients.  Cook on low for 3-4 hours until pork chops are done.  I wouldn't let this one cook all day, the pork chops will get too dry.  Serve with rice or pasta.

If you prefer to do this in the oven, place everything in a casserole dish, cover and cook at 350 degrees until the pork is done, 30-45 minutes (I highly recommend using a meat thermometer!)