Week 26

*Protein Smoothie
*Taco Crunch Wrap
*Red Curry
*Tuna Lettuce Wrap

Protein Smoothie

• 8 oz. almond breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk (I like the one with coconut too)
• handful of spinach
• 1/2 frozen banana
• 1 TBSP peanut butter or scoop of peanut butter powder
• 1 scoop favorite chocolate (or vanilla) protein powder 

Blend together in a blender. Enjoy


Taco Crunch Wrap

• Large burrito size Tortillas
• tostada shells
• 1 can Refried Beans 
• 1 pound ground beef
• taco seasoning
• jar of salsa con queso
• shredded lettuce
• shredded cheese
• sour cream

In a skillet, cook ground beef, drain fat and add taco seasoning according to pkg directions. Set aside. Warm refried beans in a separate pan. Cut a tortilla in an X across the center  - into 4 sections. Set aside.

Take a whole tortilla and spoon some beans onto the center in a circle as large as the tostada shell. Then spoon some ground beef onto the beans and then top with queso. Then take a tostada and place it onto the beans, meat and cheese. Top tostada with a thin layer of sour cream and then add shredded lettuce and cheese. (You can also add things like olives, tomatoes, avacados, cilantro) Then take one of the tortilla triangles and place it on the lettuce and cheese. Carefully take the edges of the whole tortilla that is on the bottom and fold it up over the triangle piece of tortilla and continue folding up the edges until its all wrapped up. Carefully place it folded side down onto a griddle or skillet and cook it until it is browned and then turn it over and cook the other side until it is toasted. The wrapped side should stay together after cooking.

Red Curry

• 3 skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 1 can bamboo shoots slivered
• 1 small onion chopped
• 1 cup carrots sliced
• 8 lg. basil leaves slivered
• 1 Tbsp oil (olive, canola, coconut)
• 2 tsp fresh garlic
• 2 tsp fresh ginger
• 2-3 TBSP red curry paste
• 13 oz can coconut milk
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 2 Tbsps brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lime

Cut chicken breasts up into bite size pieces. In a little bowl, combine coconut milk, brown sugar, and salt. Set aside. Put oil, garlic, ginger, chopped onion in a skillet. Sautee until onion is transparent and then add the chicken pieces. Cook until cooked through. Add curry paste and cook about 1 minute. Add coconut milk mixture and bring to a boil on med high heat. Reduce heat to medium and cook until reduced and thickened, about 10 min. Add carrots, bamboo shoots and basil and cook about 3 more minutes. Remove from heat and add lime juice. Serve immediately with rice.


Tuna Lettuce Wrap

• Romaine lettuce leaves washed
• 1 can tuna
• mayo or miracle whip
• sharp cheddar cheese sliced
• granny smith green apple sliced

Drain water off tuna and add mayo or miracle whip to your liking. Take a romaine lettuce leaf and put tuna down the center. Top with cheese slices and apple slices. Wrap it up in the lettuce leaf and enjoy.

Week 25

*Teriyaki Bowls
*Wingers Sticky Finger Salads
*Frito Stack-ups
*Broccoli Cheddar Soup in Bread Bowls

Teriyaki Bowls

• 3-4 chicken breasts (can substitute steak)
• 1 cup cut up broccoli
• 1/2 cup carrots sliced in pennies
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 2 cups rice cooked

Sauce for chicken

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp fresh ginger
• 1/4 tsp pepper

Place 3-4 chicken breasts in a crockpot. Combine sauce ingredients and pour over chicken. Cook for 3 hours on high. Shred chicken and leave in sauce.

Steam broccoli, carrots and onion in a pan.

Cook 2 cups rice.

Make another batch of sauce in a pan on the stovetop and add 1 TBPS corn starch. Cook just until boiling.

Put 1/2 cup rice in bowl, add veggies, chicken and drizzle sauce over top. Add rice noodles or sesame seeds.

Wingers Sticky Finger Salads

• 3-4 chicken breasts cut into thick strips
• 1/2 cup flour
• 3 eggs + 2 TBSP water
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs

If they are available to you (Costco), you can buy uncooked panko covered chicken pieces that work very well and save you lots of time. 

Sauce

• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1/3 cup Franks hot sauce (Buffalo wings flavor)
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 TBSP water

Preheat oven to 425 and grease a baking sheet with cooking spray. 

Add chicken strips and flour to a large ziplock bag. Seal and toss to coat chicken in flour.

Place panko crumbs in a bowl. In another bowl whisk together eggs and water. Dip flour coated chicken strips into egg mixture, then toss in panko crumbs to coat.

Place coated chicken pieces on greased baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes until chicken is browned and cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce in a medium sauce pan and stir over med-high heat until melted and mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat. Dip cooked chicken pieces in sauce.

Salad

Romaine lettuce cup up
Shredded cheddar and monterrey jack cheese
Dried cranberries
Cherry tomatoes
Homemade Ranch Dressing from Hidden valley ranch packet
Sticky Fingers

Frito Stack-ups

• Fritos
• Favorite canned chili
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Romaine lettuce cut up
• Olives
• Homemade Ranch Dressing from Hidden Valley ranch packet

Heat chili in a pan. Put fritos in a bowl and then top with remaining ingredients.


Broccoli Cheddar Soup

• 1 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 med onion chopped
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups half and half
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups fresh broccoli cut up
• 1 cup carrots, julienned
• salt and pepper to taste]
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar

Saute onion in butter. set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 min. Stir constantly and slowly add the half an half. Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 15 min. Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 15 min. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour by batches into blender and puree until desired texture. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve. 

Bread Bowls

• 2 TBSP yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 TBSP sugar
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 TBSP sugar
• 1 TBSP kosher salt
• 5 TBSP oil or melted butter
• 6 cups flour

Put warm water in a bowl and dissolve 1 Tbsp sugar in it by stirring. Pour yeast on top of water and mix around just enough to wet yeast. Let sit until yeast is dissolved and expanding. 

In a mixer with the bread hook, combine hot water, 2 Tbsp sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour. Mix well, but do NOT knead. Then turn off the mixer and let sit for 10 minutes, then turn it on again and mix for 10-15 seconds. Repeat that 5 times. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Divide dough into 8 pieces or fewer if you'd like bigger bowls. Take the dough and make into a ball by pulling the dough to the underside to make it smooth on top. Place ball onto a greased baking sheet. Let rise for 30 min. Brush tops with melted butter for a crispy crust or beaten egg white for a shiny crust. Bake at 350 for 20 min or until tops are golden brown. Let them cool for 10 min. Cut out a small cone shape out of the middle and pour soup into bowl. 

*This is a great recipe for french bread loaves. Divide dough into 2 pieces and roll out into rectangles and then roll up like a jelly roll.  Everything else do the same.

Week 24

*Food Storage Tortilla Soup
*Sesame Noodles
*Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches
*French Bread Pizza

Food storage Tortilla Soup

• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans chili
• 2 cans corn w/ liquid
• 3 cups medium salsa
• 1 can chicken breast
• 4 TBSP brown sugar (or apricot pineapple jam)

Put ingredients in a pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
Serve with sour cream, cheese and chips. (Because you have a fridge at present)


Sesame Noodles

• 16 oz. linguini pasta cooked according to package directions
• 1 cup shredded carrots
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 TBSP sugar
• 6 TBSP rice vinegar
• 6 TBSP soy sauce
• 2 TBSP sesame oil
• 1 tsp. chili sauce (Srirracha)
• 6 green onions sliced
• 1 tsp. sesame seeds toasted
• crushed peantus

While cooking noodles, add shredded carrots to the water the last 3 minutes. Put the remaining ingredients (except onions and seeds) in a pan and bring to a boil until the sugar dissolves. Pour over noodles and top with green onions and sesame seeds and crushed peanuts.


Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

• Franks Red Hot Buffalo Wing sauce
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 package hidden valley ranch dressing mix
• 2 TBSP butter
• Kings Hawaiian buns

Pour 1/3 cup wing sauce in a crockpot.  Place raw chicken breasts in and then cover with more sauce.  Sprinkle entire packet of ranch over chicken. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.  Shred chicken and add butter. Serve on Hawaiian rolls and add cheese if desire.

French Bread Pizza

• 2 loaves of French Bread
• 1 jar pizza sauce or favorite spaghetti sauce
• any toppings your family likes: Pepperoni, canadian bacon, onions, mushrooms, olives, pineapple, peppers, etc.
• Mozarella cheese

Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut the french bread in half lengthwise, put the halves on a cookie sheet open faced, spread sauce on both halves and then top with whatever you want. Bake for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Cut into 2 inch strips and serve.

Week 18

*Welsh Cakes
*Asian BBQ Chicken with Coconut rice
*White Bean Chicken Chili
*Spicy Rigatoni

Welsh Cakes

• 2 cups flour
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground mace or nutmeg
• 1/2 cup cold butter
• 1/3 cup currants or raisins
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 2-4 TBSP milk

In a large bowl, whicsk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon and mace. Cut the butter into samll pieces and blend into the four mixture with a pastry blender or two kinves.  The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.  Stir in the currants.  Add the beaten egg and enough milk to form a light dough.
Knead the dough gently on a lightly floured surface and roll to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut into rounds using a 2 1/2 inch cookie cutter.
Lightly butter a griddle, heavy frying pan or electric frying pan and heat to medium hot.  Cook the welsh cakes for about 5 minutes per side or until they are golden brown, but still soft in the middle.  Immediately after baking, sprinkle with white sugar.
Note: They can also be baked in a 350 degree oven on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake for about 7 - 9 minutes on each side or until set and very lightly browned.


Asian BBQ Chicken with Coconut Rice

• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 TBSP lime juice (about 1 lime)
• 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/4 tsp curry powder
• 3-4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 8 boneless, skinless chicken THIGHS
• green onions, sliced

Combine everything but the chicken in a small bowl.  Whisk to dissolve brown sugar.  Place marinade and chicken in a zip-loc bag.  Pop that bag in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours, or longer if you have time.
Preheat a grill. Cook for 5-10 minutes on each side depending on the thickness.

Coconut Rice

• 2 cups white or jasmine rice
• 1 can coconut milk
• 2 cups water
• 1 tsp. Kosher salt
• splash of white vinegar
• 2-3 tsp white sugar

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Turn heat to low and cover for 20minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed. Allow to stand 5 minutes. Top with chicken and green onions.


White Bean Chicken Chili

• 2 cans Great Northern Beans
• 2 (12 oz) cans chicken broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can corn or 10 oz frozen corn
• 1 (12 oz) can chicken breast drained
• 1 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Put everything in a soup pot except cheese and simmer for 45 min. Stir in cheese. 

Optional: Serve with toppings. (additional cheese, green onions, tortilla chips) Good over rice too.

Spicy Rigatoni

• 2 TBSP oil
• 1/2 TBSP crushed red pepper
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 TBSP Chopped garlic
• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
• 3/4 cup marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup alfredo sauce
• 1/4 cup peas
• 1 pound Rigatoni pasta

Cook pasta according to package directions. In a skillet, heat oil.  Add crushed red pepper, salt, pepper, and garlic and saute just long enough for the garlic to caramelize and red pepper to release flavor into the oil.  Add sliced chicken and saute briefly to coat in spices. Add Marinara sauce first and then the alfredo and bring to a simmer. Pour over noodles and toss with peas.

Week 14

*Tomato Soup/Big Kid Grilled Cheese 

*Garlic Lime Chicken

*Tostadas

*Cookout Hamburgers

Tomato Soup/Big Kid Grilled Cheese 

• Campbells Tomato Soup
• Chicken broth
• Prairie Grain Honey Whole Wheat Bread
• Gruyere cheese
• Vermont White cheddar
• American cheese
• Smoked Bacon

Mix the Tomato soup with as much chicken broth to reach desired consistency. Heat til bubbling. Butter one side of each piece of bread and layer on cheese and bacon.  Grill.


Garlic Lime Chicken

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tsp. mustard
• 6 cloves garlic
• 3 TBSP lime juice
• 3 TBSP lemon juice
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 6 chicken breasts

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a wire whisk. Put chicken strips into a lg. ziploc bag.  Pour marinade over chicken and seal bag.  Refrigerate for  hours. Pour chicken and marinade onto a jellyroll pan that has edges.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Broil for 15-20 minutes until chicken is done.

Tostadas

• Tostadas
• Mexican Rice (see recipe below)
• Refried Beans or refried black beans
• Shredded Cheese
• tomatoes diced
• olives
• shredded lettuce
• salsa verde
• sour cream

Warm tostadas in oven. Warm refried beans in a saucepan. Make mexican rice. Layer all ingredients on a warm tostada.

Mexican Rice

• 1 cup rice
• 1 TBSP oil
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 2 cups water
• 1 can (small) tomato sauce
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. Knorr Suiza chicken bouillon
• 1/2 tsp. cumin

In a shallow, large saucepan, brown rice in oil with green pepper.  When browned add tomato sauce.  Mix together. Add water and spices. Cook on high, covered for 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 more minutes, still covered.  Turn off heat until done.


Cookout Hamburgers

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• potato buns
• cheese
• ketchup
• mustard
• lettuce
• pickles
• grilled red onions
• tomatoes

How I make my patties:

I buy 75/15 ground beef if I'm cooking them on the grill. It has more flavor.

I take a 1/3 cup measuring cup and fill it with ground beef. I then flip it onto a square of wax paper and flatten it with the bottom side of a small salad plate. It makes a perfect circle and you can squish it to desired thickness. I sprinkle them with all seasoning salt on the grill. Add cheese just before taking them off the grill.

I always make grilled onions by slicing a red onion and then grilling them in a skillet with a little brown sugar until they are just tender. They're awesome.

Week 11 -

*Chauncy's Asian Noodles

*Pizza Roll-ups
*Santa Fe Chili
*Tandoori Chicken Skewers


Chauncy's Asian Noodles

• 12 oz. EXTRA FINE egg noodles
• 2 chicken breasts diced
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 whole bunch green onions chopped

Cook pieces of chicken in teriyaki sauce in a skillet. Heat oil in a small saucepan. Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and spread out onto large cookie sheet. Immediately sprinkle chicken and onions onto noodles. Gently pour soy sauce over noodles. Then spoon oil over noodles.  The green onions will crackle and sizzle. Serve immediately.

Pizza Roll-ups

Dough:

• 4 cups warm water
• 4 TBSP yeast
• 8 TBSP sugar
• 4 tsp salt
• 4 TBSP oil
• 10-12 Cups flour

In a large bowl, add 5 TBSP sugar to water. Dissolve yeast in water, wait until it bubbles. Add remaining sugar, salt, and oil then stir. Add flour 3-4 cups at a time until sides of bowl are clean. Let it rest for 15 minutes. Knead and divide dough in half.

• 2 pkg. pepperoni slices
• pizza or spaghetti sauce
• grated mozzarella or other cheese

While dough is resting, put pepperoni in the blender and chop it.

Oil counter and rolling pin. Roll out half of the dough at a time about 3/8 inch thick. Sprinkle half of pepperoni and plenty of cheese over dough. Roll up like cinnamon rolls. Cut into 1" slices.  Let rise about 15-20 minutes. Bake at 350 for 20-22 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately spread with pizza/spaghetti sauce. Top with grated parmesan cheese.


Santa Fe Chili

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cans (16 oz.) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans (15 oz.) Black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cans (15 oz.) chili beans, don't drain
• 2 cans (11 oz) corn
• 1 can (14 oz. ) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (10 oz) diced tomatoes and green chilies
• 1 can (11 oz) V8 juice
• 2 envelopes ranch salad dressing mix
• 2 envelopes taco seasoning
• sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes

In a skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat. Drain. Transfer to a crock pot. Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours. Serve with sour cream, cheese and corn chips.

Tandoori Chicken Skewers

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 TBSP curry powder
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 1 tsp garlic cloves minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/4 tsp salt
• chicken tenders

Combine ingredients and marinate chicken for 3 hours in a ziploc bag. Put chicken on skewers and grill.

Week 9 -

*Shrimp Scampi

*Chicken Pot Pie

*Black Bean Soup

*Beef Brisket

Shrimp Scampi 

• 6 TBSP butter, at room temperature
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 1 TBSP minced shallots
• 2 TBSP snipped fresh chives
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• angel hair pasta

Preheat the broiler. Combine the butter, olive oil, garlic, shallots, chives, salt and pepper and paprika in a large bowl.  Blend thoroughly. Toss the shrimp in the mixture until thoroughly coated. Broil the shrimp as close as possible to the heat for 2 minutes on each side.  Serve immediately on a bed of pasta.

Chicken Pot Pie

Shell:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 1/4 cup chilled butter - cut up
• 4-6 TBSP ice cold water

Combine flour and salt and cut in shortening and butter until coarse crumbs.  Sprinkle with ice water a TBSP at a time.  Stir with fork to moisten. Gather dough into a ball with your hands and divide in half. Roll out into a 9 inch circle.

Filling:

• 2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
• 3 potatoes diced
• 2 carrots sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 rosemary sprig
• 2 to 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cold water
• 1/2 cup peas/corn/green beans

Bring 2 cups of the chicken stock to a boil in a saucepan.  Add the potatoes, carrots, onions and rosemary sprig and boil for 5 minutes. Drain, reserving the liquid and set the vegetables aside. Discard the rosemary. In the sauce pan, reheat the chicken stock.  Combine the cold water and flour together and slowly stir into the broth to thicken.  Add the veggies and chicken. Pour into a greased pie dish and cover with the pre-made crust. Seal and flute the edges. Cut a slit in the top.  Bake at 350 for 40 min.

Black Bean Soup

• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 celery ribs, finely chopped
• 1/4 large red bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 small chicken bouillon cubes
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 2 (15 oz) cans black beans, undrained
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 lemon, juice of
• 1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch

In a pot, combine first 6 ingredients. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add half a can of beans, salt and cumin, cook for 5 minutes. puree the soup. Add the rest of the beans to the soup. Combine the cornstarch with 1 1/2 TBSP of cold water. Add the lemon and the cornstarch to the soup. Cook until thickened.
Top with cheese, sour cream, avocado and cilantro.

Beef Brisket

• 1 beef brisket
• 1 bottle teriyaki sauce
• 3 TBSP worchestershire sauce
• Lipton onion soup mix
• 2 TBSP minced onion
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• crushed red pepper to taste
• salt and pepper

Combine ingredients and marinate for a few hours and then cook covered in marinade for 3-4 hours on 285. Cook uncovered for the last 30 minutes to brown the top.