Avocado Salmon Rice Bowl

I made this!

D was out of town last week, so I tried to think of food he doesn't care for, and have it.  He doesn't like Salmon or a ton of lime, so this looked great.  Although I don't really like rice.  But I decided to try it.  What I got, was really good, if you like salmon, lime, AND cilantro.

There wasn't a lot of rice the way I made it, so I was good. I would have again. I might lessen the honey next time or just not use it in the rice.

Avocado Salmon Rice Bowl

Photo by ALB

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 16 minutes
Servings 2

Adapted from Willcookforsmiles.com 

Ingredients
Rice
1 cup Minute Rice Jasmine Rice (the microwaveable kind
Salt
1/2 lime, juice only
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp chicken or vegetable stock

Salmon:
1 lb salmon fillets skin on
1 Tbsp lime juice (I used 2 TBSP, which made it a little runny)
1 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp minced fresh cilantro
Salt to taste (didn't use)

Avocado Topping:
1 ripe avocado
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp minced fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp chili powder

Instructions 
Rice: Cook rice in the microwave. Preheat a medium cooking pan over medium-high heat. Mix stock, lime juice, honey, and cilantro together. Pour the mixture into the preheated pan and let it simmer for about a minute. Take the pan off heat and mix rice into the liquid. Season with a little bit more salt, mix well, and set aside.

Salmon: Preheat grill pan on medium.  Mix lime juice, honey, and cilantro together. Rub the salmon skin with some oil and place the fillets skin down on the heated pan for 4 minutes. Flip and  rub salmon fillets with the lime mixture on all exposed sides. (Some glaze will likely run down onto the pan, it will most likely get quite scorched).  Cook another 2 minutes.

Avocado: Cut avocado in half, take out the pit, and take off the skin. Chop avocado and add it to a small bowl. Add lime juice, cilantro, chili powder (you can add salt if you want). Gently mix.

To assemble the rice bowls: divide rice among two bowls, top it off with a salmon fillet, and top each bowl with half the avocado mixture.

12 WW Blue Points (my additions/subtractions at 2 servings)

Whole30 Chipotle Beef and Avocado Bowls

After we Un-Paleo-ed/Un-Whole30-ed this, it was really good.

Whole30 Chipotle Beef and Avocado Bowls (Sofritas Copycat, Paleo)

Photo by ALB

Course Main Course
Adapted from: 40Aprons
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients
Smoky Sauce
1 poblano pepper
1/2 Tbsp. chipotle pepper powder
3 cloves garlic
3/4 cup tomato salsa
2 Tbsp. avocado oil (didn't use)
1/2 teaspoon salt

Whole30 Chipotle Beef and Avocado Bowls
16 ounces ground beef (used 96/4)
8 ounces baby Bella mushrooms minced
2 Cups cooked rice
2 limes juice of, divided
1 cup fresh cilantro chopped, plus more for garnish, if desired
4 coontainers of Wholly Guacamole Minis, Classic
1/2 cup minced red onion plus more for garnish, if desired
Tomato for garnish

Instructions
Roast the poblano pepper: Preheat the broiler then place poblano pepper on the oven rack about 4" from broiler element. Cook until blackened on top, then, with tongs, flip over. Broil until blackened. Continue rotating and broiling until blackened until all sides are blistered. Alternately, carefully hold the pepper with heat-proof tongs to a gas stove flame (or place on top of stove rack), rotating to blacken all sides. Set aside and let cool slightly.

Make the smoky sauce: When poblano pepper is cooled to the touch, peel off the blackened skin, remove stem, and seeds. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until very smooth.

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef, breaking up with a spatulate. Add in mushrooms and sauté until softened and liquid is evaporated just a few minutes. Stir in poblano-salsa sauce and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook a couple of minutes until bubbly and a bit thickened. Remove from heat.

Make the cilantro-lime rice: Stir together cooked rice, juice of 1 lime, about 2/3 cup cilantro, and plenty of salt.

Serve your Whole30 chipotle beef and avocado bowls: divide cilantro-lime rice among bowls, then top with beef mixture. Finish with a couple big, heaping spoonfuls of guacamole. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro, tomato and red onion, if desired.

9 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Katsudon Japanese Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl

So I think that I liked this better than D did.  He thought the egg came out weird. I thought everything tasted really good.  I would have again.  It was originally for 2 portions, but again, when your chops come in a package of 3, make 3 and have lunch the next day.

Katsudon Japanese Pork Cutlet and Egg Rice Bowl

Photo by ALB

Prep time: 20 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Total time: 40 mins

Katsudon is a fried, panko-breaded pork cutlet with egg over rice and a favorite of Japanese restaurant-goers. Our Katsudon recipe is easy to make at home!

Adapted from Author: Sarah
Recipe type: Pork
Cuisine: Japanese
Serves: 3 servings

Ingredients
3 center-cut, boneless pork chops, pounded down to a centimeter thick (1 lb total)
salt and pepper
1/4 C flour, for dusting
1 egg
1 cup panko
oil, for frying (used Pam)
½ cup dashi stock or chicken stock
2 teaspoons sugar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons Mirin
2 large eggs
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 servings steamed white rice (1 1/2 C)
1 scallion, chopped

Instructions
Season the pounded pork chops with salt and pepper, and dust with a light, even coating of flour. In one shallow bowl, beat the egg. Put the panko into another shallow bowl.

Add thin, even layer of oil to a cast iron pan or skillet over medium heat (used Pam). The oil is ready when you throw a panko breadcrumb into the oil and it sizzles. Dip the pork into the egg to coat. Transfer the pork to the panko and press it evenly into the meat to get a good coating.

Carefully lay the pork chops in the hot oil and cook for 5-6 minutes on one side, until golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for another 5-6 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with a paper towel.

While the pork is resting, add the stock, sugar, soy sauce, and Mirin to a small bowl. In another bowl, lightly beat 2 eggs. Add a tablespoon of oil to a pan (can use the same pan) over medium heat (again with the Pam), and add the sliced onion. Fry the onions until they’re translucent and slightly caramelized.

Pour the stock mixture over the onions. Slice your tonkatsu into pieces and place on top of the onions. Drizzle the egg over everything. Cook over medium low heat until the egg is just set. Serve over bowls of steamed rice, and garnish with scallions.

9 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 3 servings)

Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash and Guacamole Rice Bowls

D and I decided to have this recipe.  Of course it was all about cooking on a sheet pan, and he was like, Dutch Oven.  There was also some confusion about whether the rice was cooked or not (measuring 2 Cups).  As someone who doesn't eat a lot of rice, next time I'll assume it was cooked (way too much).

So yes, we both liked it and would have again.

Roasted Chicken, Butternut Squash and Guacamole Rice Bowls

Photo by ALB

Sheet pan roasted chicken breasts, butternut squash and red onion served with black beans, brown rice and guacamole make this a nutritious meal in a bowl.

SERVES: SERVES 4

Ingredients
2 cups Cooked long-grain brown rice (make enough to make 2-2.5 Cups)
1 15-ounce can black beans
1 cup cilantro leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground chili pepper
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cups cubed butternut squash
1 red onion, sliced into ¼-inch slices
2 8-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
1 8-ounce package Wholly Guacamole® Dip of your choice

Instructions (I'm not really sure how D made it...he used a Dutch Oven)
Cook the brown rice according to package directions, Stir in 1 cup of the cilantro and keep warm. Warm the beans in a small saucepan or the microwave and keep warm.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Line a 9 X 13-inch baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.

In a small bowl or ramekin, mix the cumin, chili powder, kosher salt and pepper together. In a medium size bowl, add the butternut squash and onions. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of the seasoning mix. Toss and spread out the veggies on the sheet pan.

In the same bowl, add the chicken and drizzle with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle with the remainder of the seasoning and toss to coat well. Place the chicken on the foil lined sheet pan. Do not layer on the vegetables, but instead lay alongside.

Place the sheet pan on the middle rack of the hot oven and cook for 11-13 minutes. Do not disturb the vegetables or chicken so that they develop a caramelized crust. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil, then put the baking sheet back into the oven and cook the vegetables for an additional 5-7 minutes or until desired doneness.

Slice or chop the chicken breast. Assemble the bowls by layering the chicken with 1 cup brown rice, ¼ of the black beans the butternut squash and roasted onion. Top with guacamole and garnish with cilantro leaves and serve.

10 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings with 1/2C rice serving)

Cilantro Chicken with Peanuts

I supposed if you don't like cilantro, you shouldn't make this.  I do like it, so no issues from me. This was good an simple. The hardest part was finding peanuts since Kroger's were 4 months out of date.  (Circle K had some).

Cilantro Chicken with Peanuts

Photo by ALB

Cilantro, with its distinctive fragrance and flavor marries well with the spicy dried peppers in this Asian-style chicken recipe.

Adapted from BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS

MAKES: 4 SERVINGS
PREP: 10 MINS
COOK: 7 MINS

Ingredients
Cooking Spray
1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 ounce honey-roasted peanuts (1/4 cup)
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tablespoon Sambal Oelek
1 tablespoon soy sauce, low-sodium
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 cups fresh cilantro leaves
2 cups hot cooked rice
Didn't add 4 cups finely shredded napa cabbage

Directions
Heat 10-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat covered in cooking spray. Add chicken. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add peanuts and crushed pepper. Cook and stir 3 minutes more or until chicken is just cooked through. Add soy sauce, sesame oil, and vinegar. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in cilantro. Spoon over cabbage or rice. Serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

5 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Baked Chicken and Rice Chimichangas

So DL over at A Well Fed Life pinned this recipe on her pinterest page.  I saw it and thought it looked good.  Also D was going to make a Whole Chicken for Easter.  And if you don't go to Whole Foods or a butcher, it seems a Whole Chicken is more like 10 pounds than 3-4.  We ALWAYS have left overs.

So D made Jalapeno Mustard Chicken and Green Rice.  We didn't have as much chicken as we usually have but we did have 2 cups of green rice.  It seemed this recipe below fit in on how to use everything up.

It was pretty good, but D and I both agreed it needed something "bright" inside the chimichanga.  I said cilantro or a fresh jalapeno.  D said Pico de Gallo.  I wasn't thinking when I went to the store, so I forgot to buy extra salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, and/or avocado for topping.  We had with Chipotle Refried Beans .

Baked Chicken and Rice Chimichangas

Photo by ALB

Adapted from: Lil' Luna
Recipe type: Main Dish
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
1½ c cooked shredded chicken breast (or use rotisserie or saute some chicken up)
⅔ c. salsa
1½ tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
Cooking Spray
2 C Green Chile Rice (or use Knorr or Uncle Ben's Spanish Rice)
1¼ c. shredded colby jack cheese
4 burrito size flour tortillas

INSTRUCTIONS
COMBINE the cooked shredded chicken with salsa, cumin, and oregano; set aside.

Reheat the Rice.

Stir the cheese and the rice into the chicken mixture. Divide the mixture between flour tortillas, wrap and place seam-side down on a cooking sprayed baking sheet. Spray the chimichangas with cooking spray and place in oven to bake for 10 minutes (or until golden brown and crispy) at 425 degrees. Rotate the baking pan and cook 8-10 more minutes.

Serve, if desired, with your favorite toppings such as; shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped tomato, chopped cilantro, chopped green onion, chopped lettuce, and lime wedges.

12 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

MUSHROOM RICE WITH ONION & SHALLOTS

This rice needs to go into the regular rotation.  It had so much flavor.  D and I both think we have had something similar.  We both thought it would be good as a casserole with chicken and Parmesan.

Any way we will have again.  We had with Spicy Honey Brushed Chicken.

MUSHROOM RICE WITH ONION AND SHALLOTS

Photo by ALB

Recipe By DailyInspiration

This recipe sounds like a great side dish to steak or chicken. The dish comes from the "Joy of Eating" cookbook.

READY IN: 45 mins
SERVES: 6

INGREDIENTS
1 cup rice, long grain
1 (10 1/2ounce) can beef broth
3⁄4 cup water
salt and pepper, to taste
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 shallots, minced
1 tablespoon butter
1⁄4 lb mushroom, sliced

DIRECTIONS
In a saucepan, stir together the rice, broth, water, salt and pepper. Cover pan and simmer until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. Meanwhile, in a skillet, saute onion and shallots in butter until onions are soft. Add mushrooms and continue cooking until mushrooms are tender. Stir mushroom mixture into rice and heat through.

4 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 6 servings)

Creamy Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

This is one of those recipes where I waited too long to review it.  I remembered I liked it but I can't remember why.  Oh well.

Would have again though.

Creamy Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Photo by ALB

Active Time: 35 Mins
Total Time: 1 Hour 10 Mins
Serves 8 (serving size: about 1 1/4 cups)--4 now, 4 later

Wild rice is wonderfully fragrant; it’s the perfect counter to the creamy, earthy mushroom mixture and has enough texture that the grains won’t bloat or fall apart in the casserole. Simmer 11/2 cups rice in 6 cups water for 45 minutes and drain. You can also use 1 (13-ounce) package frozen cooked wild rice, such as Engine 2, which is sold at Whole Foods. Cook the mushroom mixture on the stove while the chicken finishes in the oven (use the same casserole dishes to avoid extra clean up). Serve with simply sautéed green beans or a mixed greens salad.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
Cooking spray
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
5 cups 2% reduced-fat milk, divided
1 1/2 cups sliced leeks
1 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
2 (8-oz.) pkg. presliced cremini mushrooms
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 ounce 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
3 cups hot cooked wild rice
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sprinkle chicken with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side. Divide chicken between 2 square (8-inch) baking dishes coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes or until done. Cool and chop.

Return skillet to medium-high. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk in a bowl. Add leeks and next 4 ingredients (through mushrooms) to pan; cook 13 minutes or until browned and tender. Stir in flour mixture, remaining 4 1/2 cups milk, and parsley; cook 3 minutes. Stir in cream cheese until smooth; cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened. Combine chicken, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, mushroom mixture, rice, and green onions in a bowl. Coat baking dishes with cooking spray. Divide chicken mixture between dishes; top with almonds. Follow freezing directions, or bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes or until browned and bubbly.

To FREEZE: Cool mixture completely. Cover with heavy-duty foil or airtight lids. Freeze up to 2 months.THAW: Uncover and microwave at MEDIUM (50% power) 15 minutes or until thawed.REHEAT: Cover and bake at 450 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Nutritional Information
Calories: 335; Fat: 10.9g; Sat fat: 3.5g; Monofat: 4.6g; Polyfat: 1.7g; Protein: 29g; Carbohydrate: 32g; Fiber: 4g; Cholesterol: 62mg; Iron: 2mg; Sodium: 633mg; Calcium: 240mg; Sugars: 2g; Est. added sugars: 0g

Cooking Light, March 2017

8 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 8 servings)

Skillet Lemon Chicken with Artichokes

Once again, I'm not sure how 6 pieces of chicken yields 4 servings, but besides that, this was a good dish.

D made it, and I really enjoyed the tang of the artichokes with the brightness of the lemon.  He thought we should have had a side with it. I was fine with just the rice.

Would have again.

Skillet Lemon Chicken with Artichokes

By The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen
Lemony artichokes pair perfectly with crispy golden chicken thighs.


TOTAL TIME: 0:25
PREP: 0:10 LEVEL: Easy
YIELD: 4 servings

Ingredients
1 tsp. olive oil
6 small chicken thighs (about 2 lbs.) (from the original picture, it looks bone-in with skin)
1 medium onion
2/3 c. dry white wine
1 tbsp. butter
1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts, quartered, rinsed and drained
1 medium lemon, thinly sliced and seeded.
Parsley, chopped, for garnish
Steamed rice

Directions
In 12-inch skillet, heat 1 teaspoon oil on medium-high. Season small chicken thighs with 1⁄2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place skin side down; cook 5 to 8 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer chicken, skin side up, to rimmed foil-lined baking sheet and roast at 425°F 15 minutes or until cooked (165°F).

To same skillet on medium, add onion, chopped, and 1⁄4 teaspoon salt. Cook 3 minutes, stirring. Add dry white wine and simmer 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in butter until melted, then artichoke hearts and lemon.

To serve, spoon sauce over chicken; garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with steamed rice.

Nutritional information (per serving):
About 510 cals, 34 g protein, 10 g carbs, 36 g fat (11 g sat), 1 g fiber, 790 mg sodium.

Chicken in Coconut Milk with Lemongrass

D and I saw a recipe about Chicken in Milk. It looked odd, but then this recipe came up on my Pinterest page.  Twice with the milk!  We are always willing to try new things, so we put it on the food list.

It was really good.  The coconut milk cooks down, so there wasn't a lot of sauce but in the spinach it was good.  Also the lemon broke down so there was a puckerish taste which also went well.

Would have again.

Chicken in Coconut Milk with Lemongrass

Photo by ALB

From The Kitchn
Serves 4 to 6 (We got 6)

Ingredients
1 whole roasting chicken (3 to 4 pounds)
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cinnamon stick
2 whole star anise (didn't use because we didn't have any, and I don't like it)
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro stems
1 large lemon, cut into eighths
1 stalk lemongrass, 5 inches of white part only, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
6 to 8 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 (14- to 16-ounce) can coconut milk
3 cups torn greens (spinach, kale, chard, mizuna, etc.) (used spinach)
2 green onions, chopped into 1/4-inch pieces
Chopped cilantro, to garnish
Cooked rice, to serve (2 cups)

Preparation
Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle it liberally with salt and pepper. Put the chicken, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, or if you're going to cook it right away, set it aside while you prepare remaining ingredients.

When ready to bake the chicken, preheat the oven to 375°F.

Melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the oil. Put in the chicken, breast-side up, and let it sizzle for about 30 seconds. Carefully flip the bird and crisp the other side for another 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat, put the chicken on a plate, and pour off the fat in the pot.

Transfer the chicken back into the pot, breast-side up, and add the cinnamon stick, star anise, chopped cilantro stems, lemon, lemongrass, garlic, and coconut milk. Cook, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 60 to 90 minutes (depending on size). Spoon the sauce over the top of the bird to baste every 20 minutes or so. The chicken is done when an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 165°F.

Remove chicken from the pot and put it on a plate. Pull out and discard the cinnamon stick and star anise. Put the pot with the sauce back on the stovetop over medium heat, add the spinach and stir until just wilted, about 10 seconds.

Carve the chicken and serve each piece over rice with sauce spooned over the top. Garnish with chopped scallions and cilantro leaves.

16 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 6 servings)

Korean-Style Pork and Rice

I am in love with ground pork.  Not sure why I like it so much, but I do.  This recipe came in the newest Cooking Light, and I asked D if we could have it.  Amazingly our Kroger had gochujang paste as well, so it wasn't even a hassle to find.

The dish is slightly spicy and garlicky.  D and I were watching different TV shows, and I texted him in the middle of eating, "This is so good."  We will have again.

Korean-Style Pork and Rice

Photo by ALB

TOTAL TIME: 20 mins
YIELD: Serves 4

Deeply savory gochujang adds a mild heat to the finished dish so kids can still enjoy; look for it on the Asian foods aisle.

Ingredients 
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
12 ounces lean ground pork (used 1 lb)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onion
3/4 cup chopped green onions, divided
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons gochujang sauce (such as Annie Chun's)
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
2 (8.8-oz.) pkg. precooked brown rice (such as Uncle Ben's) (used regular brown rice...cooked 3 Cups)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
4 lime wedges (didn't use)

Preparation
Heat oil in a large skillet over high. Add pork; cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. Add white onion, 1/4 cup green onions, and garlic; cook 4 minutes. Add 1/3 cup water; cook 1 minute, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 1/2 cup green onions, gochujang, soy sauce, and brown sugar.

Heat rice according to directions.

Place 1/2 cup pork mixture and 3/4 cup rice in each of 4 bowls; top with cilantro, vinegar, and lime wedges.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Calories: 429; Fat: 17.4 g; Sat fat: 4 g; Mono fat: 2.7 g; Poly fat: 2.9 g; Protein: 23 g; Carbohydrate: 49 g; Fiber: 5 g; Cholesterol: 64 mg; Iron: 1 mg; Sodium: 532 mg; Calcium: 30 mg; Sugars: 7 g; Est. Added Sugars: 5 g

Cooking Light, JANUARY 2017

13 Smart Points (my additions/subtractions at 4 servings)

Rainbow Fried Rice

Eat this with the Char Sil.

Rainbow Fried Rice

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup minced yellow onion
1 cup chopped Char Sil
4 cups cooked long-grain rice, chilled
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup minced green onions
1 teaspoon dark sesame oil

Preparation
Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add eggs; stir-fry for 1 minute or until done. Remove from pan.

Add yellow onion to pan; sauté 2 minutes or until translucent. Stir in Chinese-Style Roast Pork; stir-fry 2 minutes over medium-high heat. Add rice and soy sauce; stir-fry 2 minutes. Return eggs to pan; cook 1 minute. Stir in iceberg lettuce, green peas, salt, and white pepper; stir-fry 1 minute. Sprinkle with green onions, and drizzle with sesame oil.

Yield: 6 servings (serving size: 1 cup)

Nutritional Information
CALORIES 219 (28% from fat); FAT 6.7g (sat 1.4g,mono 3.1g,poly 1.5g); PROTEIN 9.7g; CHOLESTEROL 85mg; CALCIUM 33mg; SODIUM 455mg; FIBER 1.7g; IRON 1.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 29g

Cooking Light, SEPTEMBER 2005

Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork

This recipe had one thing wrong with it. It was not spicy!  Looking at the ingredients, there is nothing besides crushed red pepper to add heat.  So you know we added chili garlic sauce to our servings.

Besides that, it was really good.  It was definitely something I liked for dinner, and leftovers for lunch.

We would have again.

Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork

Photo by ALB

The Szechuan Green Beans with Ground Pork recipe is characteristic of the hot and spicy cuisine from the Szechuan province. You can substitute lean ground chicken or turkey for pork and asparagus for green beans.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup pork mixture and 1/2 cup rice)

Ingredients
1/2 pound lean ground pork (used 1 lb)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper (used black pepper)
1 teaspoon peanut oil (used vegetable oil)
2 1/2 cups (1-inch) cut green beans
1 teaspoon minced fresh garlic
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 cups hot cooked white rice

Preparation
Combine the first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pork mixture, beans, and garlic; cook 3 minutes or until pork loses its pink color, stirring to crumble.

Combine hoisin and next 3 ingredients (through soy sauce) in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add hoisin mixture to pan. Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Serve over rice.

Nutritional Information (without my changes)
Amount per serving
Calories: 254; Fat: 6.8 g; Sat fat: 2.2 g; Mono fat: 3.5 g; Poly fat: 1.1 g; Protein: 14.6 g; Carbohydrate: 32.5 g; Fiber: 3.3 g; Cholesterol: 43 mg; Iron: 1.5 mg; Sodium: 323 mg; Calcium: 47 mg

Cooking Light, APRIL 2006

Spicy Thai Red Curry Beef

D and I usually don't eat curry at home, because it is never creamy enough.  However, this looked good.

We made a few substitutions/additions.  We used green curry paste because we had it.  We added green beans to bulk up the recipe.  And we used sirloin instead of tenderloin because was on sale, and to be honest, I'm not going to pay for tenderloin to chop it up.  So there's that.

Anyway,  it was good.  Not terribly spicy. We would have again.  Of course we added Sambal Oelek to it.

Spicy Thai Red Curry Beef

Photo by ALB

This single-skillet supper is a quick ticket to rich, exotic flavor. Don't shake the coconut milk before opening; you want to keep the thick cream layer separated.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: about 1 cup beef mixture and 1/2 cup rice)

Ingredients
1 (13.5-ounce) can light coconut milk
4 teaspoons red curry paste (used green because we had it)
2 teaspoons dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons fish sauce
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 1/2 cups sliced red bell pepper
Added 1 1/2 cup green beans
1 cup sliced onion
12 ounces beef tenderloin, thinly sliced (used 1 lb sirloin)
1 cup torn fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups hot cooked brown basmati rice (used regular white rice)
4 lime wedges

Preparation
1. Spoon coconut cream (thick layer at top of can) into a large skillet; stir in curry paste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add remaining coconut milk, sugar, fish sauce, and red pepper; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add bell pepper and onion; reduce heat to medium, and simmer 4 minutes. Add beef; cook 3 minutes or until done, stirring occasionally.

2. Remove pan from heat; stir in basil, lime juice, and salt. Serve beef mixture with rice and lime wedges.

Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
Calories: 334; Fat: 11.2 g; Satfat: 6.5 g; Monofat: 2.6 g; Polyfat: 0.6 g; Protein: 24 g; Carbohydrate: 36 g; Fiber: 3 g; Cholesterol: 55 mg; Iron: 3 mg; Sodium: 645 mg; Calcium: 65 mg; Sugars: 6 g; Est. Added: Sugars 2 g

Cooking Light, JUNE 2016

Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

D's mom got me the The Homesick Texan's Family Table cookbook.  If a recipe on this site isn't from Cooking Light, it is usually from Homesick Texan. Her recipes are big on flavor, but not complex to make.  This is the first recipe we (D) made out of  the book.  It was pretty easy for a weekday night, and it had a lot of flavor.  The servings were big.  We used Johnsonville Andouille, but next time we both agreed that the Rajin' Cajun Andouille should be used.

I found the recipe on NPR's Website, so I shared it.  We would have again.

Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

Photo by ALB

From Lisa Fain, Homesick Texan.
Recipe from NPR Website
Serves: 5
Serving Size: 1.5 Cups

Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil or bacon grease
1 yellow onion, diced
2 jalapeños, stemmed, seeded, and diced
1 bell pepper, seeded, stemmed, and diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
4 pieces (12 to 14 ounces total) Andouille or other smoky sausage, sliced into rounds
2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup rice (uncooked)
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
4 green onion, green part only, chopped
salt (to taste...for Nutritional Information, I used 1/4 tsp)

Instructions
In a 4-quart pot or large, deep skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion, jalapeños, and bell pepper, and cook, occasionally stirring, until the onions are translucent and the peppers are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic and sausage, and continue to cook, occasionally stirring, until the sausage begins to crisp, about 5 minutes more.

Add the tomatoes (do not drain the cans), parsley, thyme, oregano, cayenne, chicken broth, and rice. Stir until well combined, turn the heat up to high, and bring to a boil. Then turn the heat down to low, cover the pot, and cook until the rice is tender and has absorbed a lot of the liquid, 20 to 25 minutes.

Remove the lid and stir in the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp is pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the smoked paprika and green onions, and then adjust the seasonings and add salt to taste. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information (from My Fitness Pal)
Servings 5.0; Amount Per Serving
Calories: 477; Total Fat: 24 g; Saturated Fat: 7 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 0 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 169 mg; Sodium: 1440 mg; Potassium: 125 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 30 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 7 g; Protein: 31 g

Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice Pilaf

I love braised chicken.  It is typically flavorful, and moist.  A good comfort food.

This recipe needs tweaking, however. It is a bit on the bland side.  It needed more salt, and perhaps more thyme.  It did call for a tablespoon of fresh thyme.  I got to about 1 teaspoon, and decided that must be a typo.  I put in another teaspoon of dried, but I think that is where the blandness came from.  And we used salted chicken broth, as well.  So more salt and thyme, next time.

The texture was really good.  The walnuts added an unexpected crunch.

It did pick up flavor the next day.  Since we used 1 pound of Brussels Sprouts, we didn't have a side.

Braised Chicken Thighs with Wild Rice Pilaf

Photo by ALB

Browning the meat in the pan first adds all that roasted chicken flavor to the pilaf. The Brussels sprouts and chicken thighs slowly braise as the rice cooks--a protein, vegetable side, and starch all in one pan. Sweet golden raisins and cider vinegar balance out the other hearty, earthy flavors in the dish.

Yield: Serves 4 (serving size: 1 chicken thigh and about 1 cup rice mixture)

Ingredients
1/4 cup walnut halves
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1 cup uncooked wild rice (such as RiceSelect) (used brown, because we had it)
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1/4 cup chopped celery
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
1 1/2 cups unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)
1 cup water
1/4 cup golden raisins (didn't use)
8 ounces Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (used 16 oz)
1 tablespoon cider vinegar

Preparation
1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add walnuts; cook 5 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally. Remove walnuts from pan; coarsely chop.

2. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Add chicken to pan; cook 4 minutes or until browned. Turn and cook 3 minutes. Place chicken on a plate (chicken will not be cooked through). Add rice, onion, carrot, celery, and thyme to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring to coat rice. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, stock, and 1 cup water, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 45 minutes. Return chicken thighs to pan, nestling them into rice mixture. Top with raisins and Brussels sprouts. Return to a simmer; cover and cook 12 minutes or until liquid is absorbed and chicken is done. Place chicken on a platter. Stir walnuts and vinegar into rice mixture. Serve rice mixture with chicken.

Nutritional Information
Amount per serving
Calories 503 Fat 15.2 g Satfat 2.7 g Monofat 5.5 g Polyfat 5.3 g Protein 44 g Carbohydrate 49 g Fiber 7 g Cholesterol 162 mg Iron 4 mg Sodium 476 mg Calcium 87 mg

Cooking Light, MARCH 2015

Cumin Rice With Avocado

So I'm constantly looking for Mexican Side Dishes.  Although I could eat refried beans 5 of 7 days a week, I don't think D could.  So when I found this recipe, I thought we should give it a try.

It was very good and we would have again.  It makes me like restaurant Mexican Rice even less.

Cumin Rice With Avocado

Photo by ALB

Adapted from A Messy Cook

Prep Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Servings: 4

Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 1/4 C of Chicken Broth
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
1/3 cup picante sauce
1 ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
2 green onions, sliced

Directions
Bring Chicken Broth to a boil in large saucepan.
Add butter and cumin, and stir until butter is melted.
Add rice and reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until rice is tender.
Stir in picante sauce and heat through.
Stir in avocado and onions just before serving.

Nutritional Information (from My Fitness Pal)
Per Serving
Calories: 191.4; Total Fat: 7.2 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Cholesterol: 5.2 mg; Sodium: 270.1 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 29 g; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 0.9 g; Protein: 3.4 g

Cheesy Enchilada Rice Skillet

Anytime a recipe calls for Enchilada Sauce, I will stop and look.  Seriously, I can drink the stuff with a straw straight from the can.  So when I saw this, yes, we had to have.

D made it Friday.  It was huge and good.  We need to have again.  I added extra sauce to mine.

Cheesy Enchilada Rice Skillet

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Adapted from Damn Delicious

The easiest enchilada you will ever make. No rolling, no folding. Just throw everything into a skillet and you’re set!

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
1 cup uncooked rice
Add 1 lb cooked Chicken Breast, cut in bite-size pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
Add 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
1 cup canned corn kernels, drained
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
3/4 cup Old El Paso™ mild enchilada sauce
1/2 cup Old El Paso™ mild green enchilada sauce
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon oregano
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves

Instructions
In a large saucepan of 1 1 /2 cups water, cook rice according to package instructions; set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic, onion and bell pepper (and jalapeno), and cook, stirring frequently, until onions have become translucent, about 2-3 minutes.

Stir in rice, (chicken), corn, black beans, enchilada sauces, chili powder, cumin and oregano until well combined and heated through, about 2-3 minutes; season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Remove from heat and top with cheese. Cover until cheese has melted, about 2 minutes.

Serve immediately, garnished with cilantro.

Nutritional Information (from My Fitness Pal) includes chicken and jalapeno
Calories: 558; Total Fat: 15 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 80 mg; Sodium: 1800 mg; Potassium: 173 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 70 g; Dietary Fiber: 9 g; Sugars: 6 g; Protein: 38 g

Braised Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes and Garlic

I saw this recipe on NCBeaches Pinterest page, and pinned it, of course.
D and I wanted to use better quality (or maybe just more $$) tomatoes, but our Kroger doesn't have an Italian Section, besides the standards (the bigger Kroger has a ton of imported stuff, but I didn't realize our Kroger didn't have it, and wasn't going to go make a special trip).  After making it, I think I was right on not going out of my way.

Anyway, I wasn't sure about the type of chicken but the picutre on the Tuttorosso website used chicken quarters, so that's what I bought.  I'm not sure how you get 6 servings using 8 pieces of chicken (we only had 4 servings), but the servings were generous.

It took a while to make, so this isn't a quick weekday meal unless you have an hour.  But I would have again. We were going to have with a salad, but when we saw the portion, we skipped it.

Braised Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes and Garlic

Prep time 10 minutes
Cook time 1 hour
Servings 6 (we got 4)
From Tuttorosso

The perfect recipe when you’ve got extra chicken on hand, this dish also features chunks of tomatoes and a variety of fresh herbs like basil, garlic or whatever else you feel like adding.

Photo by ALB

Ingredients
8 pieces chicken thighs, or legs or both
Salt and black pepper to taste
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup red wine
1 (28 ounce) can Tuttorosso® Diced Tomatoes in rich tomato juice (used a 14.5 oz can of Hunt's dices with oregano and rosemary and one with basil and oregano)
1 (28 ounce) can Tuttorosso® Peeled Plum Italian Style Tomatoes (used Hunt's)
3 tablespoons Tuttorosso® Tomato Paste (used Hunt's)
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Fresh herbs of choice, basil, thyme, parsley, sage, rosemary, chopped (used basil, thyme, parsley, and rosemary, all from the garden)
8 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 medium onion, sliced
Pasta of choice, or rice for serving, cooked and drained (used rice) 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
Preheat oven to 400o F. Salt and pepper chicken thighs. Heat ovenproof skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil and butter. When mixture is hot add the chicken. Brown on all sides, about 2 minutes. Remove chicken from pan. Pour wine into skillet, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen bits; cook for 1 minute. Add diced tomatoes, peeled plum tomatoes and tomato paste; stir to combine. Bring sauce to a boil; then turn off heat. Add nutmeg, fresh herbs of choice, garlic cloves, onion and chicken. Put lid on skillet and cook in oven for 1 hour.

Remove from oven and allow to sit on counter with lid on while you prepare pasta. Place prepared pasta into a large serving bowl. Remove lid and check sauce. If sauce is too thin, remove chicken from pot and boil the sauce for 5 or 10 minutes so it will thicken. To serve, pour sauce over pasta, then arrange chicken over the top. Sprinkle with cheese and serve with crusty Italian bread.

Nutrition (with 6 servings)
Calories: 260 | Fats: 13.0 g | Trans Fats: 0 g | Cholesterol: 95 mg | Sodium: 1110 mg | Carbohydrate: 15 g | Fiber: 3 g | Protein: 21 g | Vitamin A: 40 % | Vitamin C: 60 % | Calcium: 10 % | Iron: 15 %

Red Beans and Rice

Mardi Gras was last week. My friend had us over to celebrate on Sunday (who needs a calendar to celebrate when you feel like it)? He mentioned he was having a Turducken and well since I can't eat turkey, I offered to bring something I could eat (I missed where he said he was making gumbo...more because Turducken is one of those foods I want to try, and am slightly jealous of the people who do get to have it).

Anyway, D and I started assembling the ingredients on Saturday. We went to the butcher for the Tasso and Andouille (and have a beer). We soaked the red beans for over 16 hours. On Sunday we bought the rest of the ingredients at Kroger.

Then I started making it. It was pretty easy to do. Of course I doubled the recipe, but my notes are going to be pertaining to the 8 servings it served. The smell through out the house was incredible. The beans were still hard after 16 hours, but softened in the boiling stock.

For the party, it was well received. And the portions are huge. And I still want some turducken.

Will definitely have again. I think the NI is a little high. I had trouble figuring out what a pound of Ham Hocks equalled in calories. I think the NI was based on it without the bone. 1 pound of bone-in ham hock resulted in .5 lb of meat, which is what I used).

Photo by ALB

Red Beans and Rice

Recipe adapted from Emeril Lagasse
Total Time: 2 hr 50 min; Prep: 20 min; Cook: 2 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 servings
Level: Intermediate

Ingredients
1 pound dried red beans, rinsed and sorted over
3 tablespoons bacon grease (used 2 TBSP of vegetable oil)
1/4 cup chopped tasso, or chopped ham
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
3/4 cup chopped celery
3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Pinch cayenne
3 bay leaves 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 pound smoked sausage, split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces (used andouille)
1 pound smoked ham hocks
3 tablespoons chopped garlic
10 cups chicken stock, or water (used 6 C of chicken broth)
4 cups cooked white rice
1/4 cup chopped green onions, garnish

Directions
Place the beans in a large bowl or pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Photo by ALB

Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.)

Al's Note: After 90 minutes, slit the ham hocks.

Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. (Al's Note: Remove the ham hocks and if still on the bone, take out, put on a cutting board, chop the meat and add the meat back in). Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.

Photo by ALB

Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.

Nutritional Information from My Fitness Pal
Calories: 447; Total Fat: 18 g; Saturated Fat: 5 g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2 g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g; Trans Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 52 mg; Sodium: 1430 mg; Potassium: 154 mg; Total Carbohydrate: 69 g; Dietary Fiber: 28 g; Sugars: 4 g; Protein: 30 g

Ingredients Used
1.50 cup(s), Onions - Raw
0.75 cup(s), Celery - Raw
0.75 cup(s), Peppers - Sweet, green, raw
0.50 tsp(s), Spices - Salt, table
0.50 tsp(s), Spices - Pepper, black
0.06 tsp(s), Ground Cayenne Red Pepper (Gourmet Collection)
2.00 tbsp(s), Parsley - Raw
0.50 lb(s), Andouille Smoked Sausage
3.00 tbsp(s), Garlic - Raw
4.00 cup(s), Rice - White, long-grain, regular, cooked
0.25 cup(s), Onions - Young green, tops only
1.00 lb(s), Red Beans - Dry
0.33 lb(s), Cajun Spicy Ham
2.00 tbsp, Oil - Vegetable, canola
2.00 tsp, Spices - Thyme, fresh
8.00 oz (112g), Ham Hock
3.00 leaf, Bay Leaf
6.00 cup (240ml), Chicken Broth 1 Cup

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001