Meatloaf with Fried Onions and Ranch Dressing

Got this recipe from Allrecipes.com: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Meatloaf-with-Fried-Onions-and-Ranch-Seasoning/Detail.aspx  We absolutely LOVE this recipe.  So moist and flavorful.  No picture since you know what meatloaf looks like :)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (or any combo of meat you like)
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup ketchup
3/4 cup seasoned dry stuffing crumbs (like Stove Top)
1/2 of a 1 oz package of Ranch Dressing Mix
1 6oz can French's Fried Onions

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients (it will seem like there are way too many onions, but I promise, add the whole can!).  Shape into a loaf and fit into a greased 9x5 inch pan.
Bake, covered loosely with foil, for 50-60 minutes or until a meat thermometer measures 145-150 degrees.

Serve with ketchup on top if you like.

Important note:  Don't be tempted to skimp and only use 1 lb of meat, definitely use 1 1/2 lbs of meat.  I usually just brown up the other 1/2 lb and freeze it for later.  Use the stuffing crumbs, don't substitute bread crumbs, the stuffing crumbs help make it really moist.

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

Spinach & Feta Stuffed Chicken

I think the original idea for this recipe came from Mindi. It's so versatile, I love it!

1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt
pepper
can diced tomatoes
kalamata olives

Squeeze the excess water out of the spinach (good way to do this is wrap it in a dish towel). Mix the spinach, feta and sun dried tomatoes.

Butterfly the chicken breasts and place the spinach mixture inside:


Fold the chicken breast over and secure it with 2-3 toothpicks.

Place the stuffed chicken breasts in a crockpot and season liberally with salt & pepper.


Add a can of diced tomatoes, I usually add s&p again along with dried basil - to give the tomatoes some more flavor. Add the kalamata olives.

Cook on low for 4 hours.

Like I said, this dish is so versatile, I think it would also be good with capers or artichoke hearts. Add as much or as little of the spinach/cheese/sun dried tomatoes as you want. I only put measurements to give you a place to start.

All American Mini Meatloaves

Sorry I don't have a photo. Next time I make it I'll take pics.

17 Saltines crushed fine
¼ cup whole milk
1/3 cup minced fresh parsley
3 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 large egg
1 ½ tablespoons Dijon Mustard
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 ½ lbs meatloaf mix* (3/4 lb of ground pork and 3/4 lb 90% lean ground beef)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

Glaze
½ cup Ketchup
¼ cup light brown sugar
4 teaspoons cider vinegar

*Walmart did not have meatloaf mix so I bought a pound of 90% lean ground beef and 1 lbs ground pork and mixed them together and took out what looked like 1/4 lb. of each And put it in the freezer for next time.

1. Heat oven to 500 degrees and put oven rack in the middle position.

2. Mix saltines, milk, parsley, wors. Sauce, egg, mustard, onion powder, garlic powder and meat together. I used my hands to make sure it got incorporated well. Shape the meat into 4 oval loaves.

3. Heat the oil in a nonstick 12 inch skillet and brown the meatloaves on one side for about 5 minutes then carefully flip them over to brown the other side. Neaten up the edges with a spatula. In the meantime, while the meat is browning mix the glaze.

4. If your skillet is oven safe, top the meatloaves with glaze and place in the oven until the center of the loaves reach 160 degrees, this takes about 15 minutes. My skillet was not oven safe so I rubbed the bottom of a casserole dish with vegetable oil and placed the meatloaves in there before glazing them. Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

If you try it let me know what you think!

chicken enchiladas and mexican rice

While my husband Mark thinks this picture looks unappetizing - a pile of hud is what he called it - I assure you it is a go to favorite at our house.

For the enchiladas:

In a crock pot combine 2 chicken breasts (beef can also be used), 1 onion chopped, 1 small can green chiles and s/p. Cook on High for 3-4 hours, until chicken shreds and onions are browned.

Add to chicken mixture 1/2 - 1 cup salsa, 1/4 cup sour cream, 1/4 tsp cumin.

Roll mixture into tortillas (this makes enough filling for about 6 tortillas) and place in oven safe dish. Pour 1/2 -3/4 14 oz can enchilada sauce (i use green sauce) on top of tortillas and cover with monterey jack cheese. Keep in 350 degree oven until cheese is melted.

For Mexican rice:

In saute pan, brown 1 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 chopped onion on high heat. When onions are nearly brown, add 1 cup uncooked white rice. Add 1 tbsp cumin and 1 tsp garlic powder. Add 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 2 cups chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 20 minutes.

Both of these recipes feed my family of 4 with enough left to fight for left overs!

Enjoy.

Super Delish Burritos

The great thing about this recipe is that the burritos can be frozen and reheated as you need them.

Ingredients:
Beef roast (any kind you like is fine, I usually use about 2-3 lbs worth)
1-2 can green chiles (depends on how spicy you like your food)
1 can of refried beans
1 package of large flour tortillas
1 block of monterey jack cheese (any cheese you prefer will do)
Assorted toppings of your choice such as lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, salsa or taco sauce, mexican cheese, sour cream, etc...


Directions:
Place salt and peppered meat, green chiles, and about 2 C of water in the crockpot. Cook your roast--I usually cook mine on high for 6-8 hrs. When roast is done cooking, shred with a fork. Remove all but about 1 C of the liquid from the crockpot. If this seems like too much liquid while addding the refried beans, you can always take more out. Add your refried beans and stir together in the crockpot. Warm tortillas in the microwave according to directions. Spoon beef mixture onto center of tortilla. Add a generous hunk of cheese on top of the burrito mixture.

Next, roll up your burrito. If you aren't sure how, check out these directions:


http://www.wikihow.com/Roll-a-Burrito



Once burritos have been rolled, I like to freeze them in a freezer storage bag until ready to use. Once frozen, they can be reheated in about 1.5 min. in the microwave. If serving them now, microwave the assembled burrito for about 25 seconds to melt the cheese. Top the burrito with your favorite ingredients, and ENJOY!

Serve with a salad or a mexican rice.