Baked Scallops

Recipe

4 tablespoons butter, melted

 1 1/2 pounds bay scallops, rinsed and drained

 1/2 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

 1 teaspoon onion powder

 1 teaspoon garlic powder

 1/2 teaspoon paprika

 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley

 3 cloves garlic, minced

 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Pour melted butter into a 2 quart casserole dish. Spread scallops evenly inside the dish. We added some shrimp that we also had available.  Combine the bread crumbs, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, parsley, minced garlic and Parmesan cheese in a bowl and then sprinkle it all over the scallops.

Bake in pre-heated oven until scallops are firm, about 20 minutes.

Our Review

We liked this.  It probably could have had more flavor in the topping, but it wasn't bad.

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Chicken Marengo

Recipe

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in 2" pieces

1/4 c all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

2 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 large yellow onion, sliced or chopped

1 can (14oz) Italian tomatoes or diced tomatoes

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 c sliced black olives

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 c white wine

1 c chicken broth

2 tsp sriracha or hot sauce (optional)

Mix flour and salt and pepper in a shallow dish and coat chicken with it.  Heat up the oil in pan and then cook chicken until brown on all sides.  Remove from pan and keep warm.

Add onion to the pan and cook until soft.  Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds.  Add wine and deglaze the pan.  Add tomatoes, broth, seasonings, and olives.  Bring to a boil and then add chicken.  Cook for 15 minutes until cooked through.  

Our Review

This was pretty good and we all enjoyed it.  Served with mashed potatoes.

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Slow Cooker Ground Beef Lasagna Soup

Review

1 lb. ground beef

1 onion, chopped

10 3/4 oz. tomato soup, canned, condensed

14.5 oz. tomatoes, canned, petite diced

15 oz. tomato sauce, canned

2 chicken bouillon cubes

2 beef bouillon cubes

4 c. water

1 1/2 tsp. oregano

1 1/2 tsp. basil

1 tsp. parsley

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

8 oz. Ricotta Cheese

8 lasagna noodles, broken into small pieces - UNCOOKED

12 oz. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Combine all ingredients except for ground beef and mozzarella and ricotta cheeses in the crock pot.  

Recipe said to add RAW ground beef over top, however I added cooked ground beef.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours (or high for 4-5 hours).  Half an hour before done, stir in the ricotta cheese.  Serve with the mozzarella cheese on top.

Our Review

This was pretty good.

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Tofurky Tacos and Burritos

Recipe

We used two packs of the ground beef Tofurky, heated in a pan with diced onions and added taco seasoning.  That was it.  We added all of the toppings for tacos and burritos and ate.

Our Review

Two guests didn't even know that this was vegetarian and not real ground beef!  The boys ate it and never noticed a difference and everyone ate more than one taco or burrito, so I think it was a success.

The Big Egg

Recipe

3 eggs

1/2 c flour

1/2 c milk

3 tbls butter

Beat eggs with a mixer until frothy.  Add flour and milk and mix well.  Melt butter and coat a glass pie pan.  Bake for 25-35 minutes at 400 degrees. 

Our Review

It was good.  It tasted sort of like french toast.  The kids did finish all of it and it was easy to make.

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Homemade Quick and Easy Bread

Recipe

6.5 c unbleached flour

3 c lukewarm water

1.5Tbsp yeast

1.5Tbsp salt

Pour flour in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix water, yeast and salt until there are no lumps.

Mix the water mixture into the flour bowl, make sure there are no lumps.

Cover with a towel or napkin and place in a cool, dry place to rise for 2 hours.  After the dough has risen, form 2 balls and sprinkle with flour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees with a pizza stone in it.  Place a pan of water, about 1 inch deep, under the pizza stone for moisture.  Slice the top of the dough a couple of times with a knife, sprinkle the pizza stone with corn meal or flour, then place the two balls of dough on it and bake for 30 minutes.

Our Review

We loved this bread because it was so easy and because we love bread.  The second time we make it, we added flax seed in place of some of the flour and that was equally good.  Each time we make this, I plan to alternate different types of flour and adding herbs just to try different things.  We also made one "ball" into a loaf in a bread pan so that it could be sliced for sandwiches easier.

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Pork Chops with Ginger Pear Sauce

Recipe

4 pork chops

salt

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp butter

1/3c minced shallots

2 Tbsp minced ginger (we used fresh)

1 large pear, peeled and diced

1.5c chicken stock

3 Tbsp cider vinegar

2 Tbsp honey

1/4 to 1/2 tsp minced fresh rosemary (we used dry)

fresh ground pepper

Salt the pork chops and let them sit at room temperature while preparing the other ingredients.  Heat the oil in a pan until shimmering.  Add the pork chops to the pan, without crowding, searing one side for 3-5 minutes and the other side for 2-3 minutes.  Then lower the heat and cook for about 15 minutes until cooked through.  Remove to a plate and cover to keep warm.

Remove all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the pan.  Add the butter, shallots, and ginger and toss to combine.  Cook for 1 minute, then add the chopped pear and toss to combine.  Cook for 1 minute and then add the chicken stock, vinegar and honey.  Bring to a rolling boil and continue boiling until the liquid is reduced by 2/3, about 4-6 minutes.  Turn off the heat and add the rosemary and pepper.  Add salt to taste and serve with the pork chops.

Our Review

Yummy!  We loved this one too.   We had issues with the pear mixture not reducing after about 8 minutes and we were hungry so we just ate it.  Still tasted great.  

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Grilled Marinated Salmon

Recipe

1/4c soy sauce

1/4c rice wine vinegar

2 Tbsp white sugar

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 pounds salmon

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.  Put salmon in a ziplock bag or a tupperware, pour marinade over and marinate overnight.

Cook over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes.

Our Review

This was amazing.  It may have been the fact that we used a wild fresh Alaskan Salmon that we ordered from a farm or it may have been the marinade itself.  In any case, it was amazing.

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