White Chili Recipe

I am trying to ease up on the red meats and I thought that this would be an interesting twist on regular chili. It turned out great and the family loved it.  Feel free to swap out whatever you want.  Recipes are meant to be customized AND shared.

White Chili
Ingredients

2.5lbs of Chicken Breast (chunked/cubed)
1 lb Turkey Smoked Sausage
3/4 -1 cup Yellow or Orange Bell Pepper (chopped)
3/4 -1 cup yellow onion (chopped)
1 1/2 chopped garlic clove
1/4 cup canola oil
3 tbs flour
1 can of great northern beans
1 cup of sliced portobella mushrooms
Sweet Corn
1 can chicken broth
1/4 c. half/half
Spices: Ms. Dash, Cumin, Oregano, Salt Pepper, red pepper

(I season my chicken with the spices, then marinate  a little before starting)

In a large skillet heat oil.
Throw in the onion, bell pepper & garlic and cook for a few minutes.
Sprinkle in the flour and coat the veggies.
Throw in the chicken over that and coat with the floured veggies.
Cover and let cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
When the chicken is mostly done, transfer to a Dutch oven. Pour everything in, including the scrapings from the skillet.
Slice the turkey smoked sausage & portobellas and cook them a little in the same skillet and toss that in along with the corn. add chicken broth as needed and let it all simmer (15 min).  Check your seasonings & add more if you want (i went heavy on the cumin cause i like it).

Cook it till you are sure your chicken is cooked thoroughly, add the beans last along with the half/half.  Cook for a few more minutes.  Serves many.  Garnish with cilantro, green onion, jack cheese, sour cream...or whatever you want. Its a very hearty meal.

Hope you like it!  If you try it, please come back and tell me about!

Thanks for reading.

Healthy Eating: 7 ~ Layer Salad Recipe

Although I did not make any New Years Resolutions (I never do) I have always (well at least tried) to eat right.  Lucky for me, I actually love salads and anything green, leafy.  I prefer it over sweets sometimes.  The 7 - Layer Salad is the perfect go to recipe for anyone trying to incorporate a little green into their lives.  The recipe is quick & simple, bold crunchy, creative & fun.  The idea is to layer 7 or more ingredients into a bowl with any kind of lettuce being the 1st layer.  Here is my recipe.

7 - Layer Salad

7 - Layer Salad
Ingredients ~
Romaine Lettuce (or whatever leaf you choose)
Cauliflower
Brocolli
1 Green Pepper
1 Red Onion
Frozen Sweet Peas
Miracle Whip
Sugar
5 cooked & crumbled strips of bacon or Hormel Bacon pieces
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
A Big Bowl to hold it all

Prep
(I didnt put exact measurements because thats your preference)

Chop your fresh/raw Broccoli & Cauliflower (I use about 2 cups each)
Finely slice your onion (about 5 or 6 thin slices)
Finely slice your green pepper (about 5 or 6 thin slices)
Thaw your sweet peas by running them under warm water (about 2 cups)
Cook & crumble your bacon

Now Layer
In a bowl empty your bagged lettuce
arrange your onions on top of that lettuce
arrange your green pepper on top of the onions
Cover the onions with the chopped cauliflower
Cover the chopped cauliflower with the chopped broccoli
Cover the chopped broccoli with the unthawed peas
The last layer is Miracle Whip, take a big spoon and use the back of it to spread this on top of the peas covering them.
Sprinkle about a tablespoon of sugar over the Miracle Whip
Top with the shredded cheese, followed by the crumbled bacon
(6-8 servings)

Shredded Cheddar & Bacon Garnish on 7 Layer Salad

Let this sit in the fridge for a couple hours and ENJOY!

Its a super fun, colorful, crunchy salad that sits ready to be eaten at anytime. Its a perfect addition to any meal, a quick snack, and even comfort food for some and its HEALTHY.  Feel free to modify to your own needs and have fun!

Thanks for reading!
Peace :-)

Parmesan Crusted Salmon

This was my first time making Parmesan Crusted Salmon. I was tweeting about it and @DeltaDiva35 asked for the recipe. I decide to post it. Its a combination of several recipes. I kind of made this up as i went along and I dont really measure out anything. The measurements in this recipe are to my best guestimation so if the quantities are a little off, make the adjustment. A good chef can :-)

Here is what you will need:

A baking Pan or dish big enough

1.75 lb Wild Salmon Fillet
1 1/2 cup Mayonaise
1/2 sleeve of Wheat Crackers
1/4 cup Sweet Cream Butter
Shredded Parmesan Cheese

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Lemon
Minced Garlic

Dill Weed
Oregano
Rosemary
Thyme
Chives
Crushed Black Peppercorns
Salt

Prep Time : 10 min
Cook Time 30 min

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Follow by removing the Salmon from its packaging. (Rinse it off, if you want to, I do!) Pat it dry on both sides with paper towels. Find a baking pan large enough to fit the salmon, either spray the pan with Cooking Spray, or wipe it down with Canola oil. Put it AND the Salmon to the side but not together yet..

In a bowl add a 1/4 cup of Sweet Cream Butter and a tsp of minced garlic. Microwave for 30 seconds to melt the Butter. Slice your lemon in half. Squeeze in a tsp full of freshly squeezed lemon juice and add 2 tbsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Place this bowl to the side.

Place half a sleeve of Ritz Wheat Crackers in a gallon size storage bag and crush them. Add to the crushed crackers a few shakes of pepper, 1/4 cup of Shredded Parmesan Cheese and a 1/2 tsp or 1/4 tsp (depending on your taste) of each: Dill Weed, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Chives and a squeeze of lemon juice (optional - 2 short shakes of Ms. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning). close the bag and shake the ingredients around. To THE SIDE!!

In another bowl...Place 1 - 1/2 cup of mayo. Add a few shakes of pepper, a 1/4 cup of Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 1 tsp of minced garlic and a 1/2 tsp or 1/4 tsp (depending on your taste) of each: Dill Weed, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Chives and a squeeze of lemon juice (optional - 2 short shakes of Ms. Dash Garlic & Herb Seasoning). Stir this and put it to the side please. thank you.

Go back to your salmon with your melted butter mixture and brush both sides of the salmon generously with it. Place it skin side down in your oiled baking pan. Cover the salmon now with your Mayo Mixture. A nice even coat with is much or as little as you like but cover the topside completely with it. Finish it off by spreading your crushed crackers (or breadcrumbs) mixture over the top and pressing it down firmly so its a tight coating. Place this uncovered in your preheated 350 degree oven and bake for 30 min or until flaky.

Serve with steamed veggies. It fed my family of 5! My kids have never liked salmon, but they LOVE this recipe. If you try it or even if you change it, I'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for reading!

Sausage & Cream Cheese Breakfast Rolls

This is a family fav. I make these rolls whenever I have a day off and the whole fam is at home.

16oz breakfast sausage
8 oz Cream Cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
4 cans Crescent Rolls

Turn your oven on to 350 and sit your Cream Cheese in the center of your stove. This softens it to get it ready for this recipe. Brown your sausage in a skillet like you would hamburger meat for tacos, when the meat is almost done cooking, toss in your onions and continue cooking until the sausage is completely done. Drain. Toss your Cream Cheese into the skillet with the sausage(slice the cream cheese up in cubes to make it easier to blend.). Stir this mixture over a low flame until it is creamy. Open your Crescent Rolls and begin to place a spoonful of the Sausage/Cream Cheese mixture into the center. fold the two small corners of the crescent rolls up, with the mixture in the middle and then roll. Place each roll on on a cookie sheet until the sheet is full with a reasonable space between each roll. Bake in the preheated oven according to the Crescent Roll instructions. When they are golden brown they are done. Remove from the oven and cool. You may have some of the mixture left. You can store this in the fridge and use it again. It will stay fresh for about a week if sealed and refridgerated properly. Serve with grape jelly, although some of my guests have requested salsa, ketchup, syrup etc. as garnishes. Whateva's your flava. Enjoy!!

Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe

My Oven Roasted Turkey Recipe (25lb Turkey)

Ingredients:

Turkey
Olive Oil
Stick of margarine
1 Red Onion
4 celery Stalks
1 Green Pepper
Lawry's Seasoning Salt
Ms. Dash
Salt Pepper
Sage
Cooking Bag

First things first, make sure that the turkey is properly thawed. There are guidelines. Search the Internet for that info. Remove the turkey from the packaging and rinse it off good, under cold water. DON'T FORGET TO REMOVE THE EXTRAS!! In every turkey there are a few pieces that are in plastic bags inside the bird. Get those out. (I throw mine out, but my mother says you can make stuff out of it. I don't know anything about that.)

After rinsing, melt the stick of butter in a bowl, after the butter is melted, add a 1/4 cup of olive oil to it. Use a brush or your hands to lather this oil mixture all over your turkey. Generously season the bird with Lawry's Seasoning Salt, Ms. Dash, Salt, Pepper & Sage. You be the judge of how much. I like a lot so i season a lot. Cover the entire bird with seasoning.

Roughly chop your veggies in big chunks and stuff the bird with them. This flavors the bird from the inside.

Place your bird in the appropriate sized cooking bag that is specifically made for the oven. Follow the instructions that come with the bags. These bags, no matter the brand, are a life saver. If you follow the time instructions, you will have a perfect, juicy, thoroughly cooked bird every time.