Monday, February 24, 2025

Air Fryer Greek Chicken

I marinated these  overnight.  I use Recipe Teacher for my Air Fryer Chicken Quarters and  Air Fryer Bone-in Pork Chops. I also buy a crystalized lemon product, called True Lemon.  So I always have lemon juice on hand.  You get 32 packets, and each packet is the juice of a quarter of a lemon.  Mix with water.  






Air Fryer Greek Chicken

4 Chicken thighs, bone-in
Juice of 1 Lemon
1 1/2 Tablespoons oregano
1 1/2 Tablespoons garlic
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1 tsp fresh coarse ground pepper
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil

Mix oil, white wine vinegar, lemon juice, oregano, salt, pepper and garlic.  Add chicken to marinade for at least 30 minutes.  2 hours is better.  Overnight is best!
Preheat air fryer to 380 for 5 minutes.
Skin side down 18-20 minutes (18 for smaller; 20 for larger). Flip halfway.

~recipeteacher.com 

Turkey or Chicken Casserole with Vegetables

 I bought a whole chicken (5.8 lbs.),  and put it in my slow cooker.  No water.  No spices.  Cooked it on low for about 7 hrs.  I then deboned it and removed the skin.  [the trick here is to do it almost as soon as you take it out of the slowcooker.  It's hot but much easier then if you let it cool.]. I cut up the chicken in cubes, per the recipe.  I also doubled this recipe.  I was able to get 4 meals out of it, and with the leftover chicken, I filled a "souper cube" to freeze and I'll use that to make this recipe again.



Turkey or Chicken Casserole with Vegetables

2 cups cooked meat
2 tablespoons  olive oil
1/2 cup diced celery
1/3 cup onion sliced thinly
1/3 cup green pepper sliced thinly
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
3 tablespoons white wine

Cut meat into cubes. 
Heat oil, sauté vegetables until tender.
Sprinkle flour over veg's, slowly cook for 5 minutes 
Stir in broth a small amount at a time to make a roux.
Remove from heat (important)...
Stir in the yolks and meat.  Stir in the wine.
Season to taste.

~Joy of Cooking 





Thursday, February 20, 2025

Italian Wedding Soup

I doubled this recipe, and I'm cooking it on high in an 8 qt. slowcooker for 3 1/2 hours.  I'll add the pasta the last 15 minutes.    



I'll store the soup in wide-mouth mason jars, with plastic lids (sold separately, the metal lids rust).  For this recipe,  I'll use my 3 cup jars, it will take up less room in my freezer.  




Italian Wedding Soup

3/4 lbs. ground turkey

1 egg whites

1/8 C seasoned dry bread crumbs

2 cloves garlic, minced, divided

1 1/2 TBS Italian seasoning, divided

Olive Oil cooking spray

2 cans (15 oz) reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 C water

1 C green beans, diagonally cut into 1/2" pieces

2 medium carrots, sliced 

1 medium onions, coarsely chopped

4 oz. Uncooked thin spaghetti or orecchiette, or shells

1 medium plum tomatoe, coarsely chopped

Salt & Pepper


Mix turkey, egg whites, bread crumbs, half the garlic, and 2 TBS Italian seasoning until blended, shape into 32 meatballs.  Spray large saucepan and heat over medium heat.  Cook the meatballs until browned on all sides. 5-7 minutes.

Add chicken broth, water,  green beans, carrots, onions, remaining garlic and remaining 1 TBS Italian seasoning to saucepan.  Heat o boiling, reduce and simmer, covered until all veg's are almost tender, about 8 minutes.

Heat soup to boiling and add pasta and tomatoes.  Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper 


Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Fried Rice [large batch for freezing]

 Today, I made some bread in my bread machine.  I cooked rice in my rice cooker.  Cooled it in the fridge for most of the morning into the afternoon.  I then made another favorite recipe.  This makes a large amount and I was able to get 6 one cup servings.  With my leftover white rice, I filled two of my Souper Cubes, and I'll use the rice in soups.    Here is the link I posted on the Souper Cubes https://blueskyahead.blogspot.com/2024/07/super-cube-trays-for-easy-meal-prep.html


Fried Rice



1/2 white Onion, diced
1 C  carrots, diced
1 C frozen green peas
1/2 tsp ginger, ground
1/2 tsp garlic powder
4 large eggs
3 C cooked cold rice
5 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tsp olive oil or to taste

Heat oil in wok, cook onion, peas & carrots until tender.  Push aside.  Pour in the beaten eggs, scramble and mix with veg's.  Add cooked rice, mix with vegetables.  Add garlic powder, ginger and soy sauce.








Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Shrimp Pad Thai

Thai stir fry is a stir-fried rice noodle dish commonly served as a street food in Thailand as part of the country's cuisine.[As Thailand's national dish, it is typically made with rice noodles, shrimp, peanuts, scrambled egg, sugar and bean sprouts. The ingredients are fried in a wok.
~wikipedia 

One of my favorite recipes.  You can replace the shrimp with a different source of protein.  You will need to have all your ingredients measured and ready to go, because this recipe only takes 3-4 minutes to cook.




Shrimp Pad Thai
4 oz. rice noodles
2 tsp olive oil 
8 oz. large shrimp, peed, deveined, patted dry
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 large eggs
1/2 cup bean sprouts 
1/2 cup freshly grated carrots
2 large green onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup peanuts, finely chopped
Lime wedges (opt.)

For the Sauce:
2 Tablespoons fish sauce
1 1/2 Tablespoons rice vinegar, seasoned
1 Tablespoon soy sauce (or coconut amino's, no soy)
2 Tablespoons water
1 Tablespoon honey

Cook rice noodles, drain, rinse in cold water.
In a bowl, whisk the sauce ingredients.
Heat oil in wok.  Add shrimp, cook 2 minutes (or less!), add garlic and noodles, stir to coat.  Move to side.
Add eggs, stir semi-cooked with noodles.  Stir in sauce.
Add sprouts, carrots, green onion, cook 1 minute, until sprouts are crisp.  
Sprinkle with peanuts 


Saturday, February 1, 2025

Orecchiette with Salmon, Arugula and Artichokes for 2

My version serves 2.  I replaced the Argula with sun-dried tomatoes.  I also added Feta Cheese at the end.




Orecchiette with Salmon, Arugula and Artichokes

2 svgs


4 oz. Orecchiette

1/8 C EVOO

1/2 large garlic clove, minced

2.5 oz. Baby arugula

1/4 C drained marinated artichokes, quartered 

1/8 C olives, chopped

1 TbS drained capers

1 loose cup Smoked Salmon

Salt


Cook pasta in salted water, drain.  Reserve 1/4 C of cooking water.

In skilled, heat oil, add garlic, cook 30 seconds.  Add pasta, 1/8 C cooking water, stirring for 2 minutes.  Add arugula, artichokes, olives, capers and remaining 1/8 C cooking water.  Simmer, stirring until the pasta is coated, 1 minute.  Stir in Salmon and cook until just heated thru.  



Air Fryer Greek Chicken

I marinated these  overnight.  I use Recipe Teacher for my Air Fryer Chicken Quarters and  Air Fryer Bone-in Pork Chops. I also buy a crysta...