Food!!!!

So, if you know me then you know I LOVE to eat!!! Sometimes I have to stop myself from thinking about it all the time! I grew up with a family that centered everything around food, so it comes naturally! Everyone in my family can cook, so holidays or even just a normal day includes good food! When I was still living at home I started gaining an interest for cooking. I started cooking one night a week for mom and dad! It was a good starting point for me! At one time I wanted to go to culinary school but decided I didn't want to go far off by myself so that ended that one! I love everything about cooking! I love all the tools, the food, the prepping, watching the process of the food cooking and then of course the EATING!! The last few days I have cooked some meals that have been some of the best things I have made in along time! I hope if you try them that you and your family will enjoy them as much as we did!
The first one I did several weeks ago. It was a blackened grilled chicken on top of a creamy pasta!! WOW!! IT was unreal!!! I found the recipe from Plain Chicken.

Chicken1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup ranch dressing
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 Tbsp Cajun seasoning
2 tsp salt
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp white vinegar
1/4 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
1 Tbsp white sugar, or to taste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, cajun seasoning, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Pound chicken breast to 1/4" thickness. Place chicken in the gallon size ziplock bag, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (the longer the better). Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Grill chicken for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear. Slice and serve over pasta.

Pasta
16 oz bowtie pasta
2 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream (can substitute evaporated milk)
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 Tbsp pepper
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1/4 cup butter
1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain; set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt butter, add garlic, whipping cream, Cajun seasoning, pepper, and Parmesan cheese. Whisk together on low heat for 5-6 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta. Top with Cajun ranch chicken and sprinkle a little bit more shredded Parmesan cheese on top.

The next one is a Mexican Dish!!!! Warning- it is spicy!!! Its Mexican Chicken with Rice and it also came from Plain Chicken!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 bottle Lawry's Baja Chipotle marinade or Lawry's Mesquite Marinade

3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked long grain rice (not instant)
1 Tbsp dried minced onion flakes
1 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning or Taco Seasoning
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup tomato sauce

1 container Mexican Queso
chopped tomato

Pour Baja Chipotle Marinade over chicken and let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or overnight. When ready, grill chicken until done (165 degrees).

While the chicken is grilling prepare the rice.

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat and add rice. Cook, stirring constantly, until puffed and golden. While rice is cooking, sprinkle with salt and Southwestern or Taco Seasoning.

Stir in onion flakes, tomato sauce and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

Heat cheese dip according to package directions set aside.

To assemble the Pollo Loco - place 1/4 of the rice on a plate, top with grilled chicken. Pour 2-3 Tbsp cheese dip over chicken and rice and top with chopped tomatoes.


Last night, I decided to make something sweet! Monday night at our last Bible study, Meghan brought Smores Dip!!! It was so good! Matthew's sister are home for the summer so I thought it would be a good welcome home snack!
It is so easy!!   Take 1 package of chocolate chips, mix with 1 can of condensed milk. Microwave until melted- stopping to stir several times. Once melted pour in 9x13 and randomly put spoonfuls of Marshmallow cream. Put back in microwave for 30 seconds. Take knife and swirl marshmallow!! use graham crackers to dip in!! so yummy!!!

Sorry mine is not that pretty! but I think it could be!! but it was so GOOD!!!

Matthew LOVES shrimp! Anything shrimp he is in love!! So for lunch, I made shrimp! It was a lemon butter shrimp served over brown rice! So yummy!

1 lb. shrimp {fresh or frozen…I used frozen…just make sure to thaw first!}

1 stick butter, melted

1-2 lemons, sliced thin

1 pkg. dry Italian seasoning {I used Zesty Italian, Good Seasoning}

 First off, line a baking sheet {with edges!!!} with foil. Slice the lemons and randomly place them on the baking sheet.

elt your butter and pour it on top of the lemons making sure that it’s spread evenly over the baking sheet.

I placed my shrimp {peeled & deveined} in a large ziplock and then tossed in the packet of Italian seasoning, shook it up real good until the shrimp were evenly coated, and then poured the shrimp on top of the butter & lemon on the baking sheet.

Now bake at 350 for about 12{ish} minutes and then remove from the oven.  I found this yummy dish from Pearls, Handcuffs, and HappyHour. She has a ton of great recipes!!!

Well as you can see the last few days we have been eating good food! Oh..I almost forgot..every summer we have ducks that fly in and stay at the creek right next to our house!! The even walk up in the yard! They are so cool....

Jagger and Matthew just stand out there forever and watch them!!!
Do you have any new recipes that are super good???
Hope everyone had a blessed Friday!!