We love jalapenos around our house, so when I saw this recipe, I just had to try it! It was a pretty quick, easy dinner for a weeknight.
Jalapeno Popper Chicken
1/2 c panko bread crumbs
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp taco seasoning
1 egg
2 oz reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 c shredded cheddar cheese
2 jalapenos, minced
2 chicken breasts
salt and pepper
Preheat oven to 375 and place an ovenproof rack onto a rimmed baking dish. Spray with cooking oil. In a small skillet, combine panko and oil. Cook over medium heat until panko is golden brown and crispy. Remove to a shallow bowl, stir in taco seasoning. In another shallow bowl, beat the egg. Cut a pocket into the side of each chicken breast, not quite cutting through. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper. In a bowl, combine softened cream cheese, cheddar, and minced jalapenos. Stuff each chicken breast with the cream cheese mixture, using toothpicks to secure if needed. Dip the chicken in the egg, then in the panko mixture. Place the chicken on the rack and cook 25-30 minutes.
I've never had shepherd's pie before. It never really sounded appetizing to me, but after seeing this Italian-style recipe on Rachael Ray a couple of weeks ago, I knew I had to try it. I changed the recipe some to make it a little easier. You must try this one!
Italian Shepherd's Pie
3 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 c milk
3 tbsp butter
1 large egg, beaten
1 1/2 c grated parmesan cheese (I bought the real stuff...Parmigiano-Reggiano)
1 lb ground sirloin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried rosemary
1 lb hot Italian sausage (I bought links, removed the casing, then broke it up as I was cooking)
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
5 tsp minced garlic, divided
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 c dry red wine
1 1/2 c beef broth
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover potatoes with water, bring to boil. Salt water and cook potatoes for 12-15 minutes, or until tender. Drain potatoes and return to warm pot. Add 3 tsp minced garlic and 1/2 c milk. Add butter and mash with a potato masher. Stir in beaten egg and half of the parmesan cheese. Mash until smooth, adding more milk if needed. Cover until meat mixture is prepared.
Brown ground sirloin in large skillet. Once brown, season with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Add sausage and brown, breaking up into small pieces as cooking. Add onion, red pepper, and 2 tsp minced garlic. Stir in tomato paste, cook 1-2 minutes, mixing well. Add 1 cup of red wine and reduce by half. Add stock and simmer for about 10-15 minutes until most liquid has boiled out.
Transfer meat to large casserole dish, top with potatoes and remaining cheese. Bake 20-25 minutes until potatoes are brown and crispy on the edges.
This is another great pumpkin recipe for the fall. Serve these warm or cold with coffee!
Pumpkin Pie Bars
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1 can pumpkin
3/4 c cold butter
1 1/3 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
3/4 c sugar
1 c oats
1/2 c pecans, chopped
3 eggs
1 tbsp pumpkin pie spice
Preheat oven to 350. Line 13x9 pan with foil, grease foil lining with cooking spray. Mix flour, brown sugar, 1/4 c sugar in bowl. Cut in cold butter until coarse crumbs appear. Stir in oats and pecans. Reserving 1 c of oat mixture, press remaining in pan. Bake 15 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, remaining 1/2 c sugar, pumpkin, and spice in bowl with hand mixer until smooth. Pour over crust; sprinkle with reserved oat mixture. Bake 25 minutes. Cool completely then remove foil from pan to cut into bars. Refrigerate left-overs.
Brent and I are trying to eat more fish and seafood. This is a great recipe that you can use with any kind of fish! I used tilapia filets, because that is what my store had fresh. Feel free to try it with other fish and comment to let me know what you used!
Panko Crusted Fish
2 tilapia filets
1/2 cup margarine, melted
1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1 cup unseasoned panko
2 tsp Old Bay seasoning
Preheat oven to 375. Line a baking pan with foil, then spray lightly with cooking spray. In a shallow dish, combine melted margarine and lemon juice. In another shallow dish, combine panko, garlic salt, and Old Bay seasoning. Dip fish filets in butter/lemon mixture. Drop into panko mixture, pressing the crumbs onto the fish with your fingertips. Place filets in a single layer on baking pan. Top filets with more panko mixture. Bake 15 minutes, until fish is flaky. Serve with broccoli.
After a long week of work, nothing is better than a good home cooked meal. Tonight's dinner is meatloaf! Now meatloaf is one of those things that most people have bad memories of as a child, but this recipe is a good basic meatloaf recipe that is sure to be a winner with everyone! This recipe must be credited to my parents...who raised me on good memories of meatloaf!
Home Cooked Meatloaf
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1 egg
1-2 slices bread, broken into cubes
1/4 cup ketchup
Onion & green pepper, chopped (if desired)
Mix all ingredients together. Form into loaf, place on center of broiler pan. Cover top of meatloaf with ketchup, spread evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Serve with ketchup or BBQ sauce. Great with mashed potatoes and vegetables!
