Cheese and Broccoli Stuffed Tilapia

Of course, another Pinterest recipe.  Excuse the camera phone picture, I promise you this tasted much better than the picture makes it look.


What you need:

• 4 ounces of fresh fish.  (I used tilapia and it was only $4.50 for both fillets)
• 1 cup frozen broccoli 
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 8-ounce container of chive and onion cream cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
• 3/4 cup herb-seasoned stuffing mix
• 2 Tablespoons milk
• 2 Tablespoons dry white wine (I used a cheap bottle, Oakleaf because it was $2.00 and I was trying to make this meal as cheap as I could)

How to make:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Rinse fish and pat dry with paper towels and place inside a 2 quart baking dish.
3. In a medium bowl mix egg, half of the cream cheese, and parmesan cheese. When nicely combined add in broccoli and stuffing mix.
4. Spoon filling on top of the fish fillets, roll the fish and secure with a toothpick.
5. Bake covered for 30-35 minutes or until fish flakes (or falls apart) and stuffing is hot.

To make the sauce that goes on top...

1. In a small saucepan cook remaining cream cheese, milk, and wine until heated through, stirring often.  Serve over fish.

This recipe was super easy to follow and it is really helpful for me.  I am always trying to find a way to cook fish.  Growing up my mother never cooked fish and I am not completely familiar on how to cook or prepare fish but I want to add it into my diet.  Especially because I am trying to lose baby weight but because I am breastfeeding I need the extra protein and omegas. I will definitely be making it again!

(Original recipe- http://piarecipes.blogspot.com/2012/08/broccoli-and-cheese-stuffed-tilapia.html)

Home made Hummus

So this is probably the best hummus I have ever had, and it's not just because I made it.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of Chick peas- drained BUT keep two tablespoons of the water from the can
• About 2 tablespoons of sun dried tomatoes
• 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 2 Tablespoons of Fresh Parsley- I picked mine out of my garden yay!
• Juice from 1 lemon

Just throw all of this in a food processor or blender and you are set to go. I will be making this again, this was so good just looking at the picture is making my mouth water!

Baked Crab Rangoon

What you shall need:

• I can of crab meat drained and chopped (6 ounces)
• Cream cheese softened (4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons of light mayo
• 2 teaspoons of finely chopped green onions
• 12 won ton wrappers
• fresh ground pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Spray mini muffin tray with cooking oil ( or grease however you would like)
• In a bowl combine crab meat, cream cheese, mayo, green onions and fresh ground black pepper
• Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin tray. Then place mixture inside of each wonton wrapper; about a tablespoon of mixture for each. Then if needed, fold over  edges

• Bake 15-20 minutes or until edges have browned.
• Eat deliciousness.

#132 Learn How to Cook- Sausage Lasagna

I have finally cooked my way into the intermediate level of cooking. By the way, don't mind the broken stove. For some reason our new electric stove's clock has gone crazy, missing some important lights. GE product...go figure. Ok so this Lasagna...it's ok, it was a little runny but I think that is just because I cooked it with foil over the entire time in the oven. Next time I am going to try to cook half without any kind of cover and hopefully it reduces the amount of water in the dish.

What you need:

• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomato. I used crushed tomato with basil
• 1/4 cup dry red wine. I used our wedding wine
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, plus 2 whole sprigs
• 3 cloves garlic, minced yahhh
• Pinch of red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 (16-ounce) container low fat cottage cheese
• 1 (15-ounce) container part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 bag of baby spinach
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 8 ounces of Italian sweet sausage
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 9 sheets of lasagna noodles
• 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (6 ounces)
• Olive oil

Order of events:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. 
• Start boiling water for lasagna noodles. When boiling add noodles. I would suggest added a little more then you need just in case one or two get destroyed in the cooking process.
• In a small pot bring the tomatoes, wine, whole basil sprigs (I chopped mine), garlic, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper, to taste, to a simmer. Cook until slightly thickened about 10 minutes and set aside.
• Meanwhile, puree the cottage cheese in the bowl of a food processor until smooth. Add ricotta, spinach (use however much you think you need), 1/4 cup chopped basil, nutmeg, and salt and pepper and pulse until just combined. Or, if you have a mini food processor like mine, mixed in a bowl.
• Coat a large non-stick skillet with olive oil and cook the sausage and onion, breaking it up into small pieces, until the meat is brown and the onion is tender. About 10 minutes.
• Next it's time to assemble our lasagna. Mist a 13x9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (or olive oil). Spread tomato sauce so it covers the bottom of the pan, use about 1/2 a cup. Top the sauce with three noodles and on top of the noodles, half of the cheese mixture, half the sausage and top with mozzarella cheese. Repeat for the next layer. Top with remaining noodles and sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake until the noodles are tender and the sauce is bubbling about 1 hour.
• Uncover, sprinkle with remaining cheese and continue to bake until melted, about 10 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes. 
• Serve and lick your plate.

#132 Learn How to Cook: Chicken Macaroni

To my followers, I told you that for the next week there will be a lot of recipes and book reviews! Here is another recipe. This is REALLY good. I would recommend putting this recipe in your recipe box. This dish serves 6-8.

What you shall need:

• 6 Tablespoons Butter
• 6 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
• 3 Cups Chicken Broth
• Around 1 pound of Chicken Breast
• 2 Cups Elbow Noodles
• 1 Cup Frozen Peas
• 1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs OR Planko Crumbs (Japanese Crumbs) mixed with about 2 Teaspoons of butter
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

The Process:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut chicken breasts into small pieces. Coat the bottom of a medium or small frying pan with olive oil and cook chicken pieces. I would suggest not letting the chicken turn brown.
• Meanwhile boil a pot of water and cook macaroni.
• When chicken is cooked place on the side.
• In a medium pan melt your 6 tablespoons of butter. Blend in flour and salt and pepper until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add chicken broth over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils slightly.
• In an appropriate sized baking dish (I used 9x13) place chicken, peas and macaroni. Next, pour your chicken gravy on the chicken mixture.
• Sprinkle with buttered bread crumbs.
• Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until the top becomes nice and crusty.

#132 Learn How to Cook- Italian Mac and Cheese

Italian Macaroni and Cheese

What you will need:

• 1 pound ziti
• 1 pound sausage
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 12 crimini mushrooms, roughly sliced
• salt and pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cup Italian cheese
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup parmesan

Directions on how to cook this deliciousness.

1. Cook pasta to chewy al dente (about 8 minutes)
2. Brown and crumble sausage. Drain sausage on a paper towel lined plate.
3. In the same pan, add olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until the mushrooms turn a lightly golden brown.
4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to broil.
5. To mushrooms, add flour and stir cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring mixture to a bubble. Add 2 cups of cheese and drained tomatoes. Cook until cheese melts.
6. Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta. 
7. Transfer to baking dish and sprinkle with 1/2 cup of italian cheese and the grated parmesan.
8. Brown under hot broiler (about 3-7 minutes)

I really hope you all try this dish. It is really, really tasty. I don't remember where I originally got the recipe from, but whoever it was knows their mac and cheese. You will never, ever, go back to box mac and cheese after this one.

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#132 Learn How to Cook- Beef Stew

Crock pot beef stew

What one needs:

• 2-3 pounds of beef- Preferably for stewing...it should say on the package
• 3-4 Large carrots
• 2 large potatoes cut in 1 inch squares (or in my case something that could look like a square with a little imagination).
• 1 can of tomato soup
• ^fill that can with water and pour that sucker in.
• 3 rinds/stalks/single branches of celery
• 1 Tablespoon of worcestershire sauce
• 2 Tablespoons of flour
• 3 cloves of garlic minced
• 2 large onions
• Salt and Pepper

The best thing about crockpots? Just throw everything together in the pot and BAM! 9 hours later you have a stew...I know...9 hours but it's worth it TRUST me.

#132 Learn How to Cook

Tuna and Artichoke Salad. Makes about 5 servings.

What you need:

• 12 ounces can tuna (preferably white chunk in water)
• 1 cup canned Artichoke hearts
• 1/2 cup chopped olives (preferably katamala olives)
• 1/3 cup reduced fat mayo
• 2 teaspoons of Lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoons of dried oregano

Basically, you just combine all and then mix. You can serve this on salad, on bread or you can just eat it as is. I ate it with some wheat thins and it was SO good!

#132 Learn how to cook

Spaghetti with White Clam Sauce

What you will need:

• 8 oz dried spaghetti
• 14 oz canned minced clams
• Half and half
• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1/2 (2 oz/60 grams) chopped onion
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil OR oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

• Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil in a large saucepan or pasta pot. Add some salt and olive to the water (optional). Reduce the hear slightly adding the pasta. Boil uncovered, until al dente but chewy about 8-12 minutes. Drain pasta immediately.
• Meanwhile, drain the clams, reserving their liquid. Add enough half and half to the clam liquid to make 1 3/4 cup altogether. 
• For the sauce, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and the garlic and sauté until tender but not brown, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the flour, basil OR orgegano, salt, and pepper. 
• Add the cream mixture all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Cook and stir for 1 minutes more.
• Stir in the parsley, wine and clams and heath through
• Ladle the sauce over the hot pasta, Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Serve immediately

Questions, Comments, and Concerns?

I accidentally poured in the entire package of pasta which I am pretty sure is 16 oz (?). It still came out really good. Also, we poured our sauce into the pasta and mixed it in and it was REALLY good this way. This pasta is AMAZING. It was like sex in my mouth it was so good. Put the leftovers in a baking dish and bake to heat the next day to get a completely different meal. So good!

#132 Learn how to cook

Above: Garlic and Parmesan baked chicken and baked avocado fries.


Lets start with the chicken...

What you shall need:

• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Clove garlic- minced 
• 1 Cup dried bread crumbs
• 2/3 Cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 Teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4-6 Skinless, boneless chicken breast

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish
• In a bowl, blend the olive oil and garlic
• In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil and pepper
• Dip each chicken breast in the olive mixture, then in the crumb mixture
• Arrange chick in dish topping leftover crumbs on top.
• Bake for 30 minutes- or until chicken is not pink and juices run clear

Now for the avocado fries...

What you shall need:

• 1/4 Cup flour
• 1 Teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 Large eggs beaten
• 1 1/4 cups panko (Japanese Bread Crumbs)
• 2 Firm ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and slices into 1/2 inch wedges
• Grated parmesan for serving

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
• Coat avocado slices in flour, then egg, then panko
• Spread on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray
• Sprinkle with salt
• Bake for 45 minutes or until brown.
• Sprinkle with parmesan cheese

Questions, comments and concerns about this dish. The chicken was wonderful, I have no complaints or improvements for that. The avocado fries I was a little disappointed in because they were so crispy and they didn't seem to compliment the taste of avocado I thought they would. I like my food on the soft side (I know I am weird but I have always been a sucker for mushy french fries too). I saw the avocado fries on Pinterest so I take no credit for that idea.

Oh and when I cooked these together I put the oven at 400 degrees F and cooked the fries 15 minutes before I put the chicken in. I pulled the chicken out at about 25 minutes, and turned the oven on 450 and let the fries cook for about 5 minutes longer until they turned brown.

#132 Learn how to cook

Ok this is a straight up Brittany Laccetti creation. It wasn't as bad as I anticipated! Please don't mind the cheesy plating- I am practically 5 years old when it comes to cooking so it's only appropriate.

So the generous heart shape is some garlic and butter mashed potatoes. Of course easy to make.

Above it is some baked salmon marinated in olive oil, capers and green olives served over a bed of spinach. It was a bold choice, but I was happy with the results.

What do you think? Look good or gross?

#132 Learn How to Cook

(Mexican taco soup)


Obviously this learning how to cook thing is a working process. I figured I would start with crock pot recipes. They seem like they are pretty easy, a lot of them are just "throw in ingredients and ignore". Which I LOVE.

So, I came across this recipe when I was partaking in a bloghop and I HAD to try it (http://somethingdeepwithin.blogspot.com). Anyways, it is very simple!

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs of meat
Can of pinto beans
Can of black Beans
Can of kidney beans
Can of corn
Can of diced tomatoes
Ranch seasoning packet
taco seasoning packet

How to make (so simple!):
1. Empty all canned goods into crock pot or slow cooker
2.Brown meat
3.Drain meat and insert into crock pot with ranch and taco season packets (make sure to open them and pour the contents out into the crock pot)
4. Cook on either HIGH for 3 hours, or LOW for 5 hours.
5.Dish out, put some sour cream in there and enjoy


Easy enough right?

My Recipes

Artichoke and Tuna Salad

Baked Chicken Garlic Parmesan and Baked Avocado Fries

Baked Crab Rangoon

Beef Stew

Bomb Ass Banana Bread

Broccoli and Cheddar soup

Broccoli and Cheese stuffed Tilapia

Chicken Macaroni

Homemade Hummus

Italian Macaroni and Cheese

Olive and Caper baked Salmon

Sausage Lasagna

Spaghetti and White Clam Sauce

Taco Soup (crock pot)

Toasted Almonds- Cinnamon Sugar