It's Saturday Night...What's for Dinner?

I love Saturdays!  Not only is it the weekend, but it is one of the days I get to prepare a delicious dinner.  Because there are no stresses today, My husband and I will not be forced to wait until the late evening in order to eat.  As a heavier dish, I will be making Chicken Alfredo Tortellini with Asparagus.  My sister, once again, gave me this recipe.  I love this dish!  Of course, however, one shouldn't eat this too frequently, but still it's nice to enjoy it once in a while.  So I encourage readers to try this recipe. I promise you wont regret it!

Recipe:   Chicken Alfredo Tortellini with Asparagus

  Prep Time = 15 minutes
Picture from Google.com                                              Cook Time = 30 minutes
                                                                                                  Total Time = 45 minutes

Ingredients:

• Tortellini ( 1 package)
• Water ( 4 Quarts)
• Chicken Breast ( 2 Breasts cut into cubes and seasoned with salt, pepper, and oregano)
• Asparagus ( one handful chopped in inch lengths)
• Alfredo Sauce ( 1 jar)
• Grated Parmesan ( 2 handfuls)
• Olive Oil ( 1 tablespoon)

Directions:

Step 1:  Heat oil in pan.
Step 2:  Add seasoned chicken in the pan.
Step 3:  Boil water.
Step 4:  Drain oil from cooked chicken.
Step 5:  Add Asparagus to the chicken.
Step 6:  Add Alfredo to chicken and Asparagus
Step 7:  Add Tortellini to boiling water for 7 minutes.
Step 8:  Add Parmesan to Alfredo.
Step 9:  Drain Tortellini.
Step 10:  Mix Tortellini with Alfredo/Chicken/Asparagus

*Serve and ENJOY!
* Suggested sides:  Garlic Bread and Caesar Salad

It's Friday Night...What's for Dinner?

YAY! IT'S FRIDAY!  I'm so glad it's Friday because now I can really outdo myself tonight with dinner.  I don't have school and neither does my husband.  So we can enjoy a heavier dinner.  We decided that the menu tonight will be Spanish Rice.  I came upon this recipe from one of my coworkers.  I love it this recipe especially because I have made additions to this recipe to fit my standards.  Just to give you an idea of what additions I made to this recipe was the following:  Grilled chicken with corn, peas, and carrots.  These additions add spice, color, and flavor.  I love this recipe and so does my husband.  Go ahead and try this recipe, you wont regret it!  Plus, make your own additions based on other complimentary foods!

Recipe:  Spanish Rice

  Prep Time = 10 minutes
Picture from Google.com                      Cook Time = 30-45 minutes
                                                                          Total Time = 40-55 minutes

Ingredients:

• Olive oil ( enough to cover the base of the frying pan)
• Water ( boil 4 quarts in a pot)
• Salt ( 1/2 tablespoon)
• Rice ( 1 Cup)
• Onion ( 1 medium and diced)
• Tomato paste ( 1 small can)

Directions:

Step 1:  Boil water in a pot.
Step 2:  Heat oil in frying pan on medium high.
Step 3:  Add rice and onion to the frying pan.
Step 4:  When rice and onion are golden brown, ADD tomato paste.
Step 5:  Add boiling water to the frying pan.
Step 6:  Set heat down on low and let the rice cook for about 30-45 minutes.
Step 7:  Once water has evaporated, turn of heat.

*Serve and ENJOY!
*Suggested sides:  Chicken and vegetables (carrots, peas, and corn)

It's Wednesday Night...What's for Dinner?

So, its Wednesday night and my class, for the day, was cancelled.  Although I am home early to cook a fabulous dinner, my husband wont be home until about 8:30 PM.  So you know what this means.  Yup, dinner has to be light tonight.  I suggested that we eat chicken tonight.  However, this isn't any ordinary chicken dish.  I will be making a European dish which I grew up eating.  This dish is called, Schnitzel.  This is a very simple dish.  Not only is it easy to cook, it is DELICIOUS!  This was my favorite dish as a child, and it still is.  My Grandmother made this dish to perfection.  Now I make it for my husband and I.

  Prep Time = 15 minutes
Picture from Google.com                                               Cook Time = 30 minutes
                                                                                                   Total Time = 45 minutes

Recipe:  Schnitzel

Ingredients:

• Chicken Breast ( 2 Breasts)
• Flour ( 1/2 Cup)
• Salt ( 1 Tablespoon)
• Pepper ( 1/2 Tablespoon)
• Eggs ( 2 large)
• Olive Oil ( cover bottom of frying pan)

Directions:

Step 1:  Clean and cut fat from Chicken breasts.  

Step 2:  Cut  each Chicken breast to have thinner cuts of Chicken.  Make each cut                       parallel to the cutting board.

Step 3:  Using a kitchen hammer, tenderize or pound each slice of Chicken.

Step 4:  Meanwhile, heat the oil and the frying pan on medium heat.  

Step 5:  In a bowl, beat 2 large eggs with a whisk.

Step 6:  In another bowl, mix 1/2 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1/2                                    tablespoon of pepper.  

Step 7:  Take a cut of chicken breast and dip it into the egg.

Step 8:  Next, cover the cut of chicken breast with flour.

Step 9:  Place the cut of chicken, which has been dipped in egg and flour, into the                        frying pan.

Step 10:  Remove when chicken is golden brown and fully cooked.

Step 11:  Serve and Enjoy!

*Suggested sides:  Salad and Potatoes (mashed, baked, or fried)

It's Tuesday Night...What's for Dinner?

So, it's Tuesday night, which is the day i have only one class.  In other words, I am home early enough to make a delicious dinner which looks as if i have put more effort into compared to last night's dinner.  Plus, my husband does not have class tonight either.  So, this gives us an opportunity to enjoy a fuller dinner.  Since tonight is yet another cold night, my husband suggested we make my sister's delicious Hot Chili.  the recipe I am going to use tonight is my sister's recipe for chili.  Now I have never been one for chili, BUT when I saw and tasted my sister's chili, I just had to have the recipe.  This recipe contains many ingredients, but once all of the ingredients are added to the pot, then the rest of the work is left to the pot!  this dish is also VERY appealing and it smells so delicious.  Trust me! You need to try this!

  Prep Time = 10 minutes
Picture from Google.com                                               Cook Time = 30 minutes
                                                                                                   Total Time = 40 minutes

Recipe:     Chili

Ingredients:

• Ground Beef ( 1 pound)
• Chili Seasonings ( 1 packet)
• Black Beans ( 1 can)
• Kidney Beans ( 1 can)
• Corn ( 2 cans)
• Diced tomatoes ( 2 cans) 
• Diced Onion ( 1 medium)
• Ortega Chilies ( 1 small can)
• Salt ( 1 tablespoon)
• Ground Pepper ( 1/2 tablespoon)
• Olive Oil ( 2 tablespoon)

Directions:

Step 1:  Heat Olive oil in a pot.

Step 2:  Add ground beef to the pot.

Step 3:  Add chili seasonings, salt, and ground pepper into the ground beef.                 

Step 4:  Once beef is fully cooked, add Black beans, Kidney beans, Corn, Tomatoes,                 Onion, and Chilies.

Step 5:  Let the pot simmer on low heat for 30 minutes.

*Serve in bowls and ENJOY!

*Suggested toppings:  Cilantro and grated Cheddar.

*Suggested side(s):  Corn bread.

It's Monday Night...What's for Dinner?

Being a full time student and a part-time teacher's aide at my local preschool, I lack much time to prepare an extravagant dinner.  Plus, my husband is a full-time student and employee, so two nights out of the week he doesn't get home until 8:30 PM.  BUT a girl has to eat and so does my husband.  By the way, my husband suggested that due to the cool weather this evening, we should have something hot to eat.  AND because we will be eating a late dinner this particular evening, it should be rather light.  Hot Tomato Soup it is! Let's get started!

Recipe:  Tomato Soup

        Prep Time = 5 minute
Picture from Google.com                      Cook Time = 20 minutes
                                                                          Total Time = 25 minutes


Ingredients:

• Tomato Paste ( 1 small can)
• Egg Noodles (  1/2 cup)
• Water ( 2 cups)
• Olive Oil ( 1 tablespoon)
• Salt ( 1/2 tablespoon)
• Vegeta (  1/4 cup)

Directions:

Step 1:  Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.

Step 2:  Add 1 tablespoon of Olive oil, and 1/2 tablespoon of salt to the water.

Step 3:  Add 1/2 cup of Egg noodles to the boiling water.  Let it boil for 7 minutes.

Step 4:  Add 1 small can of Tomato paste to the boiling water and stir until completely dissolved.

Step 5:  Add 1/4 cup of Vegeta to the pot and stir. Let it cook for 5-10 more minutes.

Step 6:  Serve Tomato soup in bowls and ENJOY!

*Feel free to be inventive and add vegetables to your soup!

*Suggested sides:  Salad, crackers, and sliced chedder.