Category: Main Dishes


Oct
2014

Hoisin Asian Meatballs

categories: Appetizers, Asian, Beef, Main Dishes
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Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried, and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. They are a great appetizer or main dish.Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

I found this recipe for Hoisin Asian Meatballs a couple of years ago on Pinterest and thought I’d give it a try. It didn’t disappoint!

The ground beef meatballs are easy to make. To make it even easier, they are cooked in the oven, so they are baked, not fried. The baked hoisin asian meatballs are then coated with a wonderful sweet and mildly spicy Asian-inspired Hoisin glaze before serving.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

What Is Hoisin Sauce?

Hoisin sauce is a commonly used Asian glaze for meat or as an addition to a stir-fry dish… think “Chinese BBQ Sauce”… a bit sweet and a bit spicy. It is commonly made from soybeans, peppers, garlic and sugar. This sauce is widely used in Chinese cooking. When used in this recipe as a base and combined with a few other Asian-inspired ingredients, creates a pretty tasty sauce for the meatballs.

Hoisin sauce is commonly found in most grocery stores in the Asian foods section.  It is also very easy to make at home. I’ve done it, and posted the recipe for hoisin sauce here.

How To Make Hoisin Asian Meatballs

This recipe could not be any easier!  Basically, you mix up the meatball ingredients, roll into meatballs, then bake them for about 15 minutes. While the meatballs bake, mix up the sauce.  Once the meatballs come out of the oven, you simply drizzle each of the meatballs with the hoisin sauce mix, then serve.

See how easy it is to make hoisin Asian meatballs? About 15 minutes total for the prep time, and 12-15 minutes to bake. That’s it!!

How Many Meatballs Does This Recipe Make?

The recipe yields approximately 18 one and a half inch meatballs. Because of the short cooking time, they can easily be ready to serve in 30 minutes, which is an added bonus, right? Right!

Hoisin Asian meatballs can be used solely as individual appetizers. Just stick a fancy toothpick into each one, and serve them on a pretty platter. You can also serve them as a main course (which is how I served them), paired with some rice and a vegetable.

Hoisin Asian Meatballs are served as a main dish, on a bed of rice, with asparagus on the side.

Hope you will give these yummy Hoisin Asian Meatballs a try… I think you will like them! I know we did! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you will come back soon. Have a great day.

Looking For More Meatball Recipes?

There are several other meatball recipes, using ground beef on this website!  They include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureOriginal Recipe Source: http://damndelicious.net/2012/12/16/hoisin-asian-meatballs-sundaysupper/

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Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, are baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: hoisin Asian meatballs
Servings: 18 meatballs
Calories Per Serving: 88 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
FOR THE MEATBALLS:
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 4 green onions , thinly sliced (stem and bulb), divided (3 for meatballs, 1 for garnish)
  • Sesame seeds , for garnish
FOR THE HOISIN GLAZE:
  • 1/4 cup Hoisin sauce (found in ethnic section at grocery store)
  • 2 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 cloves garlic , finely minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Before making meatballs, preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place a sheet of parchment paper onto a large baking sheet.
  2. Prepare the meatballs: Mix the ground beef, sesame oil, Panko bread crumbs, ginger, egg, garlic and green onion together in a large bowl. Make sure the ingredients are fully incorporated together. Once combined, use your (clean) hands to form the meat mixture into approximately 18 one and a half inch wide meatballs.
  3. As each meatball is formed, place it on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the meatballs at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes (meatballs should be browned and cooked through).
  4. Prepare hoisin glaze while meatballs are baking: Mix the glaze ingredients (hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic) in a small bowl until fully combined.
  5. As soon as meatballs are done, drizzle hoisin glaze over the top of each meatball, garnish with reserved green onions and sesame seeds and serve while hot.

  6. If serving as appetizer, insert toothpicks or small skewers into each meatball on serving tray. If serving as main dish, serve it along with rice and a vegetable. ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Hoisin Asian Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (1 meatball)
Calories 88 Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value*
Fat 5g8%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 124mg5%
Potassium 86mg2%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 40IU1%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 13mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Hoisin Asian Meatballs are made using ground beef, baked not fried , and are covered with an Asian-inspired hoisin glaze. Great appetizer or main dish.

 

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Oct
2014

Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup

categories: Italian, Main Dishes, Soups
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Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!
Fall is here! I am ready for cool, crisp mornings… and soup! I made a pot of Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup yesterday, and it was really good!

We’re had a gorgeous summer here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, but I am really enjoying the cooling air, the trees beginning to turn into their Fall colors, etc. There’s just something about Fall that calls for a large pot of delicious smelling soup cooking away on the stove.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I Came Up With This Recipe For Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup

Yesterday I was in the mood for a yummy, Italian-inspired Tuscan chicken vegetable soup. I’ve seen many recipes online for Tuscan Soup over the years (trust me, there’s a bazillion of them). Because of that, I had a basic idea of what items COULD go into this soup. I I ended up not using any ONE particular recipe, because I decided to simply create my own version. Guess what? We LOVED it!!!!

Seriously, people, we LOVED this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup! Success! Lots of “good-for you-veggies”, cannelini beans, chicken, and spices in a light Italian broth produces one great pot of soup!

Can You Make This Soup Vegetarian?

If you wish to make this a vegetarian friendly soup, it is easy! I typically use chicken broth and chicken in this soup when I make it. However, this soup tastes just as good using vegetable broth and NO chicken (if you’re vegetarian).

A bowl of the Tuscan chicken vegetable soup, ready to eat!

The Tuscan chicken vegetable soup was fun to make, because I was able to use some of the veggies I grew in our garden. These home-grown veggies included onion, garlic, oregano, thyme, basil, carrots, kale and spinach! Of course, all those ingredients can also be found at your local grocery store!

All that said, this Tuscan chicken vegetable soup is an easy recipe to prepare, and is absolutely delicious! I sure hope you’ll try it. Serious… you just gotta try this soup, because it is so yummy! Throw on a warm sweater, some sweatpants, turn on some great music, and make a pot of this soup. While you’re at it, enjoy the beauty of this glorious Fall season! Enjoy!

Looking For More SOUP Recipes?

You can find all of my soup recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. These recipes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: My brain. In “Fall” mode.

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Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
 

Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

Category: Soup
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Tuscan chicken vegetable soup
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 194 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 boneless chicken breasts , cooked and cubed
  • 7 cups chicken broth (may substitute vegetable broth, if desired)
  • 1/2 cup onion , chopped
  • 3 carrot stalks , sliced thinly
  • 3 celery stalks , sliced thinly
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 small zucchini , sliced thinly
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup kale , chopped (stems removed) (if omitting, double the spinach quantity!)
  • 1 cup baby spinach , chopped
  • 1 can cannellini beans , drained
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt & pepper , to taste (may have to add more)
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup tomato paste
  • Parmesan cheese , grated (for garnish if desired)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. In a large soup pot, saute the onion, carrots, celery, mushrooms, and zucchini in olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the chicken broth and cooked, cubed chicken to soup pot. Now add the salt & pepper, basil, oregano, thyme, and garlic powder to season the soup. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

  2. Add tomato paste, Mix well to combine. Add cannellini beans, kale and spinach. Season again with salt & pepper to taste, if necessary. Cook on low for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  3. When ready, ladle hot soup into bowls, garnish with grated Parmesan cheese, and serve. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Tip: Use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for the fastest way to make this recipe.

*I boiled the chicken breasts in water for 45 minutes earlier in the day... then used them later in this recipe. Whatever works best for you is the bottom line.

Nutrition Facts
Tuscan Chicken & Vegetable Soup
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 194 Calories from Fat 54
% Daily Value*
Fat 6g9%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 24mg8%
Sodium 1556mg68%
Potassium 826mg24%
Carbohydrates 21g7%
Fiber 5g21%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 7035IU141%
Vitamin C 44.1mg53%
Calcium 116mg12%
Iron 3.4mg19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Tuscan Chicken Vegetable Soup is a delicious, Italian-inspired soup. This hearty soup (with 7 veggies) is perfect anytime, especially on a cold day!

 

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Sep
2014

Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken

categories: Chicken, Main Dishes, Mexican / Southwestern, Sauces and Dressings
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Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.

Do you cook with chicken often? I sure do!  The recipe I want to share today with you is for Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken. This recipe is delightfully GOOD. An added benefit is that it’s low in calories (under 200 per serving), so it’s a win-win in my book!

My favorite food to eat is Mexican food. I love the flavors in most Mexican-inspired dishes, which is why I really like this one. Pan-seared Mexican chicken has great flavor, from spices like cumin, chili powder, garlic, oregano and lime juice. YUM!

The recipe for pan-seared Mexican chicken is easy to prepare. I have modified it slightly from a recipe I found on Skinnytaste.com a while ago.

If you can mix up a marinade, add chicken to the marinade, then cook it, you can make this delicious chicken! Here’s how to make it:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

It’s Easy To Make Marinated Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken!

Marinate the chicken breasts for at least half an hour. TIP: The chicken tastes even better if you let it marinate all day! If you have the time, go for all day marinating.

As you can see in the photo below, I only made two small chicken breasts, since there was only two of us eating this meal.

Chicken breasts are marinated before cooking.

Time To Cook The Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken Breasts!

Spray a large skillet with non-stick cooking spray OR add a Tablespoon of oil. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken breasts.

You can see in the photo below the little pieces of minced garlic on each piece. There’s a lot of flavor saturated on those chicken breasts!

The marinated chicken breasts are pan-seared in a hot skillet.

Cook each side of the pan-seared Mexican chicken until it is golden brown, and cooked through. This usually will take about 4-8 minutes per side depending on the chickens thickness.

The internal temperature of the cooked chicken should be at 165°F. when the chicken breasts are finished cooking.

Two of the marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken breasts cook in a skillet.

Add the reserved batch of marinade plus 1/4 cup water to the skillet, halfway through cooking the second side of the chicken breasts.

Cook the pan-seared Mexican chicken in the marinade for 3-4 minutes (until cooked through). Spoon the pan drippings over the chicken as it cooks. Once done, the chicken is ready to serve!

Serve The Pan-Seared Marinated Chicken

This pan-seared Mexican chicken recipe is to prepare, and it’s delicious! We enjoy this chicken, and usually serve it with white steamed rice on the side.

You might also enjoy topping the cooked chicken breasts with some pico de gallo salsa as a garnish! That really takes the flavor up another notch!

Finished cooking, the pan-seared Mexican chicken has darkened in color.

Hope you enjoy these tasty (and easy) pan-seared Mexican chicken breasts! They are really easy to prepare, and have good flavor!

Thanks for stopping by today, and I invite you to come back again soon for more family-friendly recipes. Take care, and have a GREAT day!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my chicken recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few of those recipes include:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted from: http://www.skinnytaste.com/2013/08/grilled-chicken-with-black-bean-mango.html

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Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
12 mins
Total Time
17 mins
 
Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: pan-seared Mexican chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 140 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (4 ounces each)
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • 6 cloves minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 limes, JUICE OF
  • 1/4 cup water
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Season chicken breasts lightly with salt and pepper. Place chicken breasts in large bowl.

  2. In separate bowl, mix together minced garlic, cumin, oregano, and lime juice. Pour HALF of the marinade sauce over chicken. Reserve the other half of  marinade for later.

  3. Coat chicken with marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at LEAST half an hour. (The longer the chicken marinates, the better the flavor!)

  4. Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray. Heat on medium high until very hot. Once skillet is hot, place marinated chicken into skillet. They should sizzle when added to skillet. Discard marinade that the chicken was in. Cook chicken 3-4 minutes, then turn to other side. Halfway through cooking second side of chicken, add the reserved marinade, plus 1/4 cup water to the skillet. Cook for 3-4 additional minutes, continually spooning sauce over the top of chicken breasts. This will coat the chicken and will help to darken the color. Cook chicken until cooked all the way through.

  5. When chicken is done, remove from skillet. If desired, serve with pico de gallo as a garnish. Serve chicken with rice, or your favorite side dish. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Caloric calculation was made based on using a 4 ounce small boneless, skinless chicken breast per serving. Larger portions of chicken will have more calories.

Nutrition Facts
Marinated, Pan-Seared Mexican Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1 (4 ounce) breast)
Calories 140 Calories from Fat 27
% Daily Value*
Fat 3g5%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 134mg6%
Potassium 455mg13%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Protein 24g48%
Vitamin A 45IU1%
Vitamin C 6.4mg8%
Calcium 26mg3%
Iron 1.3mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Marinated, pan-seared Mexican chicken is a delicious, low-fat, easy to prepare dish. The chicken will surprise you with its depth of flavor.

 

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Sep
2014

Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana

categories: Chicken, Italian, Main Dishes
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Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

I love my Mom’s recipe for Chicken Parmigiana. Really, really, really love it. I love my Mom more, but that’s a completely different story. Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana is an absolutely fantastic Italian dish!

My mom first made this classic Italian dish for me YEARS ago. I have no idea where she got the recipe… all I know is that it is fantastic! I’ve made Mom’s chicken parmigiana for years now, and it never disappoints!

About 10 years ago I prepared this delicious meal for about 35 hungry friends at a retreat, and it received rave reviews!

Mom’s chicken parmigiana is actually pretty easy to prepare, and the smell in the kitchen as the sauce is being cooked… oh my goodness! The chicken is “fork tender” and full of good old Italian flavor! The pasta sauce is totally easy to prepare, as well.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Making Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana Is Fairly Easy

Flatten boneless, skinless chicken breasts to about 1/2″ thick, then season with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken pieces in an egg/milk mixture, then an Italian bread crumbs mixture. Brown the breaded chicken breasts in a skillet, in butter and olive oil.

Make a homemade Italian-style tomato sauce (it’s simple). Layer a bit of the sauce in the bottom of baking dish before adding the chicken on top. Spoon more sauce on top of each piece of chicken.

Top the chicken with Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses, and then bake Mom’s chicken parmigiana for about 20 minutes.

Combine the remaining Italian style tomato sauce with cooked angel hair pasta (or spaghetti noodles), and serve, alongside the chicken. Mom’s chicken parmigiana is perfectly cooked, tender, and tastes delicious!

Pasta and asparagus are served alongside Mom's chicken parmigiana.

I’ve never taken photos of Mom’s chicken parmigiana while actually preparing it (my bad), so unfortunately you only get to see the finished product. Trust me, this dish is easy to make! If you can follow basic directions, you can do this!

You just might thank me for the amazing aromas in your kitchen as you cook this meal. Hope you will “get your Italian on” and give this classic Italian dish a try. I think you’re gonna love Mom’s Chicken Parmigiana!

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of chicken recipes, including:

Want More Recipes? Get My FREE Newsletter!

I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with lots of recipes, tips, etc..
Would you like to join our growing list of subscribers?

There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use.
You can submit your e-mail address there, to be added to my mailing list.

Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Source: Mom (original source is unknown)

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Mom's Chicken Parmigiana
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: chicken parmigiana
Servings: 4 servings
Calories Per Serving: 924 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the Sauce:
  • 28 ounces large can Italian chopped tomatoes ,do not drain
  • 1/2 medium brown onion , finely chopped
  • 5 garlic cloves , minced
  • 6-7 leaves fresh basil leaves (1/4 cup), chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning (or more, to taste)
  • Salt , to taste
  • 8 ounces Angel Hair Pasta (enough for 4 small servings)
For Chicken Parmigiana:
  • 4 boneless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper (to season chicken breasts)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 cups Italian bread crumbs
  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1½ cups mozzarella cheese , or four 1/2 inch slices
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  2. Prepare the sauce: Melt the butter and olive oil in a large skillet. Saute the chopped onion and crushed garlic in the olive oil and butter for a few minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the can of Italian tomatoes. Cook for approximately 10 minutes until heated through. Add the chopped basil and Italian seasoning. Remove from heat.

  3. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet between layers of plastic wrap or a large zip lock bag until thinner (the chicken, not YOU). They should end up being about 1/2 inch thick, if possible.

  4. Put two eggs in medium sized bowl; beat slightly. Add milk; stir to combine. Place Italian bread crumbs onto a dinner plate and spread to cover plate.

  5. Salt and pepper chicken breasts. Dredge one chicken breast at a time into the egg/milk mixture. Let excess egg mixture drip off back into bowl. Dredge each piece of chicken into Italian bread crumbs to coat all sides of chicken. Place each piece of chicken onto a baking sheet once completely coated.

  6. Heat butter and olive oil in large skillet. Once oil is very hot, add the chicken breasts (may have to do this in 2 batches due to size of chicken). Brown chicken for 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. Chicken does not have to be fully cooked at this point, because it will bake in oven.

  7. Place a thin layer of prepared pasta sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan (just enough to keep chicken from sticking... save the rest for the the top of chicken and the pasta!). Lay the browned chicken breasts in single layer on top of the sauce, then sprinkle chicken with grated parmesan cheese. Place a large spoonful of pasta sauce on top of the chicken breast, followed by the slice of mozzarella cheese. Bake in 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly on top.

  8. While chicken is baking, prepare angel hair pasta, per package directions. Add remaining sauce to cooked pasta, and serve alongside the chicken parmigiana when done. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Mom's Chicken Parmigiana
Amount Per Serving (1 breast + pasta)
Calories 924 Calories from Fat 342
% Daily Value*
Fat 38g58%
Saturated Fat 14g88%
Cholesterol 236mg79%
Sodium 1490mg65%
Potassium 1203mg34%
Carbohydrates 88g29%
Fiber 6g25%
Sugar 12g13%
Protein 56g112%
Vitamin A 1155IU23%
Vitamin C 23.2mg28%
Calcium 540mg54%
Iron 6.6mg37%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Mom's Chicken Parmigiana is a classic dish! Breaded chicken breasts are browned, then baked, topped w/ Italian sauce, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses!

 

 

 

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Sep
2014

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix

categories: Mexican / Southwestern, Mixes (spices, etc.), Sauces and Dressings
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It’s easy to make up a large batch of taco seasoning mix- perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc. It's easy to make up a large batch of taco seasoning mix... perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.
Years ago I got tired of buying the packages of commercially prepared seasoning mixes and started adding my own spices to ground beef, pork or chicken when we ate tacos or taco salads. Today I’d like show you how to make your own taco seasoning mix very easily.

I used to haul out various jars of spices each time I made it and then haul them all back to the cupboard when I was done. Then I found a “copycat” recipe (a copycat version of Lawry’s Taco Seasoning mix) in one of my “Top Secret Recipe” books by Todd Wilbur (I have several of his books and LOVE them).

I took his basic “recipe” for the mix, multiplied it by 12 and ended up with quite a nice supply of taco seasoning, which I store in an old spice canister.  Since we eat tacos quite often (they’re my FAVORITE), it’s handy to have a ready supply of seasoning mix around whenever I need it.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How Do You Season Meat With The Taco Seasoning Mix?

It’s easy, because all you do when you want to use it is to add 2/3 cup water to 3 Tablespoons of the mix and the pound of meat, cook for 7-10 minutes and bam! You’re done… and the meat tastes GREAT!

How easy is that? Sure is great to mix this taco seasoning mix all up ONCE and not have to haul all the spices out of the cupboard each and every time we have tacos! Hope you give it a try. It will save you some bucks and valuable time in the long run (and quite possibly a trip to the grocery store!) My photo is a bit blurry, but it’s the only one I took of the seasoning spices before mixing. Oh well.

Spices in bowl used to make the seasoning mix.

How Do You USE This Taco Seasoning Mix To Season Taco Meat?

Add 3 Tablespoons of the taco seasoning mix to browned/drained meat. This photo is using hamburger meat, but the taco seasoning mix is delicious on shredded chicken or pork, too!

The taco seasoning mix is added to a pound of browned hamburger meat.

Add 2/3 cup of water. Cook the taco mixture for 7-10 minutes, until the water has cooked down and been absorbed into the meat.  Now your taco meat is fully seasoned and ready to use!

Cooking the seasoned meat in a skillet, for tacos.

Use Taco Seasoning Mix On A Variety Of Meals

Ready to eat! This time we used the taco mix seasoning to make the seasoned ground beef for taco salads.YUM!

A taco salad was made, using the taco seasoning mix on the meat.

We use the taco seasoning mix all the time when we fix our tacos! The seasoning on the meat is wonderful, and I’m confident you’ll enjoy it, too.

The mix tastes great on the meat for homemade tacos.

I hope you will consider making up a batch of this taco seasoning mix to have around YOUR home. Truthfully, I’m pretty sure you will NOT regret it!

Looking For Other SPICE MIX Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A couple favorite spice mixes include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix / The Grateful Girl Cooks!Recipe Source: “Even More Top Secret Recipes”, by Todd Wilbur, published by the Penguin Group, 2002 (pages. 118-119)

**The recipe I am posting is the original recipe for enough seasoning mix for one pound of meat. Multiply it for the quantity you wish to have on hand. I found it easiest to make a whole bunch (for 12 meals) at one time.

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Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
0 mins
Total Time
5 mins
 
It's easy to make up a large batch of taco seasong mix... perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.
Category: Seasonings
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: taco seasoning mix
Servings: 1 (3 Tablespoons)
Calories Per Serving: 59 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 Tablespoon flour
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon minced onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground oregano
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.
  2. To prepare: Brown hamburger meat in a skillet until fully cooked. Drain the grease.
  3. Add the spice mix (or use 3 Tablespoons if you prepared quite a bit of the mix).
  4. Add 2/3 cup water to the meat and spice mixture. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low setting and cook, uncovered for 7-10 minutes. Stir occasionally.
  5. Remove from heat. Spoon the seasoned meat into warm tortillas, taco shells, or onto a salad.
  6. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes

NOTE: Quantity listed is equivalent to one envelope of store bought mix. Ingredients as listed when added to a pound of meat (hamburger meat, shredded pork or chicken) will make enough seasoned meat filling for 12 tacos (3 Tablespoons meat each).
*I multiplied the quantity by 12 to get a large quantity of seasoning mix.

Nutrition Facts
Make Your Own Taco Seasoning Mix
Amount Per Serving (1 (3 Tablespoons))
Calories 59
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1781mg77%
Potassium 144mg4%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 1785IU36%
Vitamin C 2.8mg3%
Iron 1.8mg10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!It's easy to make a large batch of taco seasoning mix - the perfect Mexican spices for ground beef, chicken or pork to use in tacos, taco salads, etc.

 

 

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Sep
2014

Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties

categories: Breakfast, Turkey
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It’s EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!
So… in my never ending quest experimenting with new recipes, I decided to try making Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties from scratch. I found the recipe via Pinterest via Martha Stewart via Lucinda Scala Quinn’s book “Mad Hungry”. Did ya get all that? Ha Ha… it takes a village.

When I was growing up my Mom used to make eggs and sausage for us about once a week. She always made sausage patties by hand (using a one pound “chub” from her favorite “name brand”). As a “busy” adult, I usually end up buying link sausage instead of patties, the kind you simply “brown and serve”.

But, when I saw this recipe, I decided to see what making homemade breakfast sausage patties “from scratch” was all about. I knew I could control the ingredients and leave out some of the unpronounceable “add ins” typically found in mass produced name brand products for longer life.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Okay… How Do I Make Homemade Breakfast Sausage?

The original recipe called for ground pork (which is my personal favorite), but I had a pound of ground turkey that I was itching to use, so I substituted turkey in this recipe for a healthier version. The sausage patties turned out very good, and I would definitely make this recipe again. Hope you will give it a try!

First things first… get all the ingredients (spices) together to add to the ground meat. Let’s do this!

Spices for homemade sausage patties

After mixing the ingredients, form the sausage patties (with clean hands, of course!). Place them onto foil or wax paper after making each one.

Breakfast sausage patties formed in palm of hand

Cooking Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties

Place the homemade breakfast sausage patties in a lightly oiled, hot skillet. I cooked several sausages at a time, then repeated the process for the remaining sausage patties.

6 breakfast sausage patties cooking in skillet

Carefully turn the patties over about half way through cooking time and continue cooking until the homemade breakfast sausage patties are cooked all the way through..

Browned homemade breakfast sausage patties cooking in skillet.

Once done, transfer the cooked sausage patties to a paper towel so any extra grease is absorbed. Once they drain a bit, they are done, and ready to eat!

One of the homemade breakfast sausage patties, up close.

I prepared these homemade breakfast sausage patties one fine morning, and ended up using them to make sausage, egg and cheese biscuits. The sausage patty was added to a fluffy biscuit, along with sliced cheddar cheese and a fried egg. It was delicious!

If you enjoy breakfast sandwiches, I hope you will check out my recipes for:

How Many Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties Does This Make?

The recipe made 8 small sausage patties and only took about 25 minutes or so to make from start to finish!  I ended up freezing half of the cooked sausage patties, to save for another breakfast.

Breakfast sausage patty on biscuit with egg and cheese

Hope you will give this easy recipe for homemade breakfast sausage a try. The calorie calculation was based on using ground turkey for the sausage. The recipe is easily adapted for using ground pork, but the calorie count will be slightly higher.  Have a fantastic day, and be sure to check out ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:
Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureRecipe Adapted from: http://www.marthastewart.com/341904/simple-homemade-sausage-patties

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Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
25 mins
 

It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!

Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: homemade breakfast sausage
Servings: 8 sausage patties
Calories Per Serving: 72 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground turkey or ground pork
  • 1 clove garlic , minced
  • 1 Tablespoon dried sage , crumbled
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried fennel , crushed
  • 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (for cooking the sausage patties in)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. In a medium sized bowl, combine all the ingredients except vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl; refrigerate for 15 minutes.
  2. To make the patties: Rinse your hands in really cold water (this helps to make it easier to make the patties without it sticking as much). Divide the meat into 8 patties. Shape each patty into a 2 1/2 inch wide disk.
  3. If you don't want to cook all the patties at once, you can refrigerate the patties or freeze them until you want to use them.
  4. If cooking immediately, heat a large skillet or griddle over high heat. Add the vegetable oil and continue heating. Place the sausages in hot skillet or griddle. Fry them about 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Carefully turn patties over and repeat until cooked through and lightly browned on both sides.
  5. When done, remove sausages to paper towels to briefly drain. Serve immediately.
  6. Cooked sausage patties can be cooled and wrapped and frozen for use at another time, if desired. Microwave sausage patties (in paper towels) to re-heat
Recipe Notes

NOTE:**Caloric calculation was based on the use of ground turkey.

Nutrition Facts
Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties
Amount Per Serving (1 sausage pattie)
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Cholesterol 31mg10%
Sodium 471mg20%
Potassium 178mg5%
Protein 13g26%
Vitamin A 30IU1%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 11mg1%
Iron 0.7mg4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!It's EASY to make eight delicious Homemade Breakfast Sausage Patties for breakfast from scratch, using ground turkey or pork!

 

 

 

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Sep
2014

Asian Lemon Chicken Strips

categories: Asian, Chicken, Main Dishes
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Asian Lemon Chicken Strips are cooked until crispy, then coated in an Asian-inspired, sweet and sticky, lemon glaze in this delicious, restaurant-quality dish!Asian Lemon Chicken Strips are cooked until crispy, then coated in an Asian-inspired, sweet and sticky, lemon glaze in this delicious, restaurant-quality dish!
Oh my goodness! I recently found a FANTASTIC recipe for Asian Lemon Chicken Strips on Pinterest, and had to share it with you!  Don’t they look scrumptious???? I made these for my husband and I last night for dinner, and they were fantastic.

WOW, WOW, WOW!! They are absolutely lip-smackin’ delicious! To quote my husband: “Wow, these really look and taste like something you’d order at a Chinese restaurant”.

The recipe itself is pretty straightforward. Directions are easy to follow and can be prepared (4 servings) in as little as 40 minutes! Crispy chicken strips coated in a sweet, sticky, lemon glaze… yet not too lemony, not too sticky, not too sweet. How can you go wrong? And did I mention just how delicious they are (repeat as needed)????  No, seriously…you need to make these. You won’t be sorry!

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Prepare The Chicken Strips

Here’s how easy they are to prepare: I used 3 large chicken breasts and cut them in long strips. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper.

Dredge each of the chicken strips, one at a time into flour to coat, then dip into buttermilk, then back into the flour to coat. Set aside, and continue until all pieces of chicken are coated.

Raw chicken breast strips on platter

Raw, floured chicken strips on cookie sheet

Make The Asian Lemon Glaze For The Chicken Strips

Make up the sauce mixture and heat it in saucepan while you are cooking the chicken strips. It’s as easy as putting the Asian inspired sauce ingredients in a pan, and cooking it for a short time!

Lemon sauce and spoon in small bowl

Cook The Chicken Strips

Heat oil in a large skillet until it is very hot (but not smoking). Carefully place the chicken pieces into the hot oil. You should hear them sizzle when they hit the oil.

Cook the chicken strips, turning after a few minutes, until lightly browned on all sides and cooked all the way through.

Strips of chicken frying in oil in skillet

Drain the cooked chicken strips on paper towels.

Fried chicken pieces draining on paper towel

Transfer the hot, thickened Asian lemon glaze to a skillet, then add the chicken strips, one at a time. Gently turn to coat with sauce on all sides. Use a spoon and tongs to fully coat chicken pieces.

Piece of chicken being covered with Asian lemon sauce in skillet

Time To Serve The Asian Lemon Chicken Strips!

Removed Asian lemon chicken strips to serving dish, garnished with toasted sesame seeds and some chopped green onion, and VOILA! Time to eat!

Lemon chicken strips garnished with green onions

I really hope you will give this easy-to-prepare delicious recipe a try…I think you’re gonna LOVE it! Have a great day, and come back soon for more yummy recipes.

Looking For More CHICKEN Recipes?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have LOTS of delicious recipes for chicken, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signatureOriginal recipe source: http://damndelicious.net/2014/02/15/asian-lemon-chicken-tenders/

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Asian Lemon Chicken Strips
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Asian Lemon Chicken Strips are cooked until crispy, then coated in an Asian-inspired, sweet and sticky, lemon glaze in this delicious, restaurant-quality dish!

Category: Entree
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: Asian lemon chicken strips
Servings: 4 servings (2 strips per)
Calories Per Serving: 375 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
For the chicken strips:
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts , cut lengthwise into strips
  • Salt and pepper , to season
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk
For the lemon glaze:
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar , packed
  • Juice of one lemon (I added the zest from the lemon to the sauce, also)
  • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
For garnish:
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 1 sliced green onion (green stem only)
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Place all the sauce ingredients in a saucepan. Stir to combine. Heat on medium; bring sauce to a rolling boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The mixture will slightly thicken. Cook the sauce while cooking the chicken strips.
  2. Season the chicken strips with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken strips, (one at a time) in flour to completely cover. then dip the strip into buttermilk to cover. Let the excess buttermilk drip off, then dredge the chicken strip in the flour again, making sure the flour fully coats the chicken. Set strips aside on a baking sheet, and continue with the remaining strips.
  3. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet until very hot (but not smoking). Once the oil is hot, add the chicken strips to the skillet. You may have to cook 3-4 at a time due to space limitations. Cook, then turn chicken after a few minutes on each side, to ensure all sides are golden brown. Once the chicken is golden brown and fully cooked, transfer the chicken strips to paper towels to drain. Continue with rest of chicken until done.
  4. Transfer the sauce into a clean skillet. Carefully (using tongs) place chicken strips (one at a time) into the hot sauce, turning gently to coat all sides. Remove chicken to serving dish. Repeat with next chicken strip. When all chicken strips are done, sprinkle tops with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onion stems. Serve immediately, and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

Tip:: To "toast" sesame seeds: Place about a teaspoon into a dry skillet. Heat on medium, stirring constantly for a few minutes until the seeds turn a light brown. Remove from skillet to cool.

Nutrition Facts
Asian Lemon Chicken Strips
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 375
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Asian Lemon Chicken Strips are cooked until crispy, then coated in an Asian-inspired, sweet and sticky, lemon glaze in this delicious, restaurant-quality dish!

 

 

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Aug
2014

Kung Pao Chicken

categories: Asian, Chicken, Main Dishes
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Who needs takeout when you can make amazing tasting Kung Pao Chicken in your own home? Serve this classic Chinese dish with rice for a great meal!Who needs takeout when you can make amazing Kung Pao Chicken from the comfort of your own home? Serve this classic Chinese dish with rice for a great meal!
One of my favorite Chinese food entrees is Kung Pao Chicken. I almost always order it when we get take-out, or when I’m enjoying a meal at our favorite Chinese restaurant. What’s not to love? Chicken, roasted peanuts, and the little kick of heat my taste buds get when eating this dish.  I don’t know where this particular recipe originated, but I got it on a 3×5 card from my Dad about 25 years ago.

I recently found the recipe card and was feeling rather nostalgic and missing my Dad (he passed away 8 years ago – I miss him dearly!) He used to love finding new recipes, and always had fun taking a turn at cooking occasionally for my Mom, myself, and my two younger sisters. So I decided to make this dish, in honor of my amazing Dad.

This particular recipe is very easy to prepare and I it tastes GREAT! Who needs take-out when you can just make this recipe (4 servings) for a fraction of the price? Hope you enjoy this recipe for Kung Pao Chicken…I know I sure did… and  you can be certain I will be making this again! Here are a few pictures to show you the process:

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How To Make Kung Pao Chicken

First, measure out the raw peanuts (no skins).

Kung Pao Chicken / The Grateful Girl Cooks!

Toast the peanuts in a bit of oil in a skillet, stirring often, until golden brown (just a few minutes).

Raw peanuts to add to chicken are cooked in oil until golden brown.

Cut the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into small chunks.

Chicken breasts are cut into cubes to use in making kung pao chicken.

Mix together the marinade ingredients. Marinate the chicken cubes in this sauce for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. I usually use a large plastic resealable bag and pour sauce over chicken.

Marinade is mixed to coat chicken breast cubes with for kung pao chicken.

Put the dried red chili peppers on a cutting surface.

Dried red chili peppers are used in kung pao chicken.

Snip the stem end off of the peppers. Remove all the seeds (they are the HEAT packers). Cut the red chili peppers into 1/2 ” long pieces. Set aside (discard seeds!).

Seeds are separated from red chili peppers before cooking dish.

Mix together ingredients for seasoning sauce. Set aside.

Kung Pao seasoning sauce is mixed to add to chicken.

Cooking Kung Pao Chicken

Stir fry chicken in hot oil for a couple of minutes, until light golden brown, and cooked through. Remove chicken to paper towels to drain when done. Wipe skillet clean.

Chicken breast cubes are cooked in hot oil until golden brown.

Stir fry the red chili peppers until dark in color and blistered from the heat.

Red chili pepper slices are cooked for kung pao chicken.

Add fresh grated ginger to the darkened red chili pepper pieces.

Fresh minced ginger is added to skillet with chili peppers.

Building Layers Of Flavor

Add the cooked chicken back into skillet with the red chili peppers and ginger. Add the seasoning sauce to the skillet, and cook until the sauce thickens.

Chicken is cooked with kung pao seasoning sauce and chili peppers.

Add the toasted peanuts to the skillet, and cook until the kung pao chicken is heated through, and then this dish is ready to serve.

Toasted peanuts are added to kung pao chicken in skillet.

Garnish the kung pao chicken with sesame seeds and chopped green onion slices. Serve over rice. Enjoy!

Kung Pao Chicken is garnished with sesame seeds and green onions, and is served on rice.

It’s really not too hard at all to make this great kung pao chicken from the comfort of your own kitchen! Hope you will consider making this yummy dish! Thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you will come back soon.

Looking for More ASIAN-INSPIRED Recipes?

You can find ALL my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. I have some wonderful Asian-inspired recipes you’ll enjoy, including:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

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Kung Pao Chicken
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
Who needs takeout when you can make amazing Kung Pao Chicken from the comfort of your own home? Serve this classic Chinese dish with rice for a great meal!
Category: Entree
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: kung pao chicken
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 302 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts (about 2 large)
  • 5-6 pieces dry red chili pepper
  • 1/2 cup raw peanuts (no skin)
  • 1 teaspoon ginger , minced
  • 1/4 cup , plus 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
For Marinade:
  • 1 egg white , lightly beaten
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
For Seasoning Sauce:
  • 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons cooking sherry
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 Tablespoons water
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
For Garnish:) optional)
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
  • green onion slices
US Customary - Metric
Instructions

  1. Prepare marinade. Mix well in medium sized bowl.  Cut chicken into 1" cubes. Add to marinade. Marinate chicken for 30 minutes in refrigerator.

  2. On a cutting board, remove stem top and seeds from the dried red chili peppers. Discard stems and seeds. Use scissors to cut each chili pepper into 1/2" long pieces.
  3. Heat a large skillet. Add 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil. Stir fry raw peanuts until they are light brown. Remove from heat,, remove from skillet and let cool.
  4. In a small bowl, mix together ingredients for the Seasoning Sauce. Set aside.
  5. Heat 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in skillet until very hot (but NOT smoking...). Add the chicken. Stir fry chicken for 2 minutes, then remove. Drain oil from skillet and wipe clean with paper towels.

  6. Add 2 Tablespoons oil back into the skillet. Add the dried red chili peppers and stir fry until they turn dark. Add the minced ginger and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Turn heat to high; add chicken back into skillet. Add the Seasoning Sauce, and cook until sauce has thickened and dish is heated through. Turn off heat. Remove skillet from stove. Add toasted peanuts to skillet. Mix to combine.

  7. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, if desired. Serve Kung Pao Chicken on a bed of rice. ENJOY!

Nutrition Facts
Kung Pao Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 302 Calories from Fat 126
% Daily Value*
Fat 14g22%
Saturated Fat 2g13%
Cholesterol 72mg24%
Sodium 546mg24%
Potassium 589mg17%
Carbohydrates 12g4%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 5g6%
Protein 29g58%
Vitamin A 365IU7%
Vitamin C 1.7mg2%
Calcium 16mg2%
Iron 1.2mg7%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Who needs takeout when you can make amazing Kung Pao Chicken from the comfort of your own home? Serve this classic Chinese dish with rice for a great meal!

 

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Aug
2014

Grilled Ham Salad With Peaches And Goat Cheese

categories: Main Dish Salads, Main Dishes, Pork, Salads
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Looking for a filling salad? You’ll love Grilled Ham Salad on spring greens, with fresh peaches, goat cheese, toasted pecans, and balsamic dressing.Looking for a filling entree salad? You'll love this Grilled Ham Salad on spring greens, with fresh peaches, goat cheese, toasted pecans, and balsamic dressing.

One of the gifts I received for Mother’s Day this year was a subscription to Food Network Magazine. That’s where I discovered this recipe for Grilled Ham Salad With Peaches and Goat Cheese.  I was thumbing through the September 2014 issue that recently and saw the recipe for a grilled ham salad, with peaches. It got my attention), because it sounded so different from other salads I’ve made.

The combination of ham and fresh peach slices sounded interesting to me. Guess what? They go WELL together! Who knew? Plus… just about ANYTHING with fresh peaches has to be wonderful, right?

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

Fresh peaches being sliced for grilled ham salad.

Well, my curiosity got the best of me and I ended up making this salad for dinner for my husband and myself a couple of nights ago. Even as I was making it, I truthfully wasn’t sure we would like it… but guess what? We both LOVED it! It was WAY better than I thought it would be, and THAT was a great surprise!

What’s IN A Grilled Ham Salad?

The grilled ham salad is a filling entree for dinner. You’ve got your meat (ham), dairy (creamy goat cheese), peaches (fruit), toasted pecans and lots of lettuce (veggies). Top it off with a homemade balsamic dressing and how could you NOT love a salad like this?

I only tweaked the original recipe just a bit. This grilled ham salad is quick to throw together, easy on the eyes, and completely delicious! I hope you will give this delicious salad a try.

Is This Grilled Ham Salad Hard To Make?

The answer is no. This grilled ham salad is not difficult at all to prepare. Ham slices are quickly grilled (indoor or outdoor), peaches are sliced, dressing is whisked together, and a delicious salad is created! It truly is a very easy salad to make!

Here’s a photo of the grilled ham salad with peaches and goat cheese (shown below), ready to eat. YUM! Sometimes just taking a chance on a new recipe ends up being a great decision when you find a GREAT tasting meal!  This grilled ham salad would be a wonderful dish to serve on a hot day!

Grilled Ham Salad With Peaches And Goat Cheese is a filling entree salad.

Hope you will consider making this grilled ham salad. I think you will be surprised with how good it tastes! Have a great day, and thank you for stopping by. Please come back again soon.

Looking For More MAIN COURSE SALADS?

You can find all of my recipes in the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page. A few main course salads you might enjoy include:

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
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Recipe Adapted From: Food Network Magazine, September 2014 issue, pg. 82

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Grilled Ham Salad With Peaches And Goat Cheese
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
6 mins
Total Time
26 mins
 
Looking for a filling entree salad? You'll love this Grilled Ham Salad on spring greens, with fresh peaches, goat cheese, toasted pecans, and balsamic dressing.
Category: Salad
Cuisine: American
Keyword: grilled ham salad
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 649 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup pecans , chopped
  • 1/3 cup olive oil (plus more for grill)
  • 2 - 1 inch thick slices ham (approx. 7 oz. each)
  • 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons Chives , chopped
  • 1/2 Tablespoon Tarragon (I used dried)
  • 1 shallot , finely minced
  • 3 fresh peaches , peeled, pitted, and sliced into 1/2 inch wedges
  • 8 cups fresh spring greens
  • 1 pinch Salt and black pepper , to taste
  • 4 ounces goat cheese , crumbled
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Preheat a grill to medium heat. (I used an indoor grill to prepare the ham)

  2. Brush the grill lightly with olive oil. Place the ham slices on the grill; heat through (about 2-3 minutes per side). Remove the ham when heated through; set aside to cool, then slice into 1/2 inch strips. Set aside.

  3. Lightly toast chopped pecans over medium high heat in a dry skillet. Stir pecans occasionally, until toasted (about 5-6 minutes). Be careful to not let them burn. Set pecans aside to cool.

  4. In a small bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, herbs and shallot. Slowly whisk the olive oil into the mixture; Mix until emulsified.

  5. Place salad greens, pecans, ham, and peaches in salad bowl. Add the salad dressing and GENTLY toss. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange salad onto serving plates, and top with crumbled goat cheese. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

**Original recipe uses 2 Tablespoons of sherry vinegar or white balsamic vinegar (instead of the regular balsamic vinegar I used).**

Nutrition Facts
Grilled Ham Salad With Peaches And Goat Cheese
Amount Per Serving (1 g)
Calories 649 Calories from Fat 450
% Daily Value*
Fat 50g77%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 74mg25%
Sodium 1344mg58%
Potassium 742mg21%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 30g60%
Vitamin A 1655IU33%
Vitamin C 27.6mg33%
Calcium 82mg8%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!Looking for a filling entree salad? You'll love this Grilled Ham Salad on spring greens, with fresh peaches, goat cheese, toasted pecans, and balsamic dressing.

 

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Aug
2014

Grilled “THAI” PB&J Sandwich

categories: Asian, Sandwiches
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A Grilled “Thai” PB&J Sandwich is a delicious, grown up, gourmet version of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sounds strange, but tastes GREAT!A Grilled "Thai" PB & J Sandwich is a delicious, grown up, gourmet version of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sounds strange, but tastes GREAT!

Look at this Grilled THAI Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich. What kind of crazy, weird sandwich is that anyways? A REALLY GOOD ONE.  YES. It’s really THAT good.

Scroll Down For A Printable Recipe Card At The Bottom Of The Page

How I First Discovered this Amazing Sandwich

The first I ever heard of such a crazy sounding sandwich was when my sister Joni (who was visiting from California) ordered one at our local Farmer’s Market last summer. One of the food vendors were selling these sandwiches, along with a few other gourmet grilled sandwiches.

Truth is, It sounded horrible to me, UNTIL she forced me to try a bite of her sandwich. I didn’t think it would be good a all.  GULP… Here is the actual picture I took of her handing me the grilled Thai PB&J sandwich to taste for the first time (shown below).

My sister offering me a bite of Thai PB & J sandwich from the farmer's market.

May I just tell you truthfully that this grilled “Thai” PB&J sandwich was absolutely 100% AMAZING!!!!! That’s right… you heard me. Who ever would have believed that an ordinary old PB&J sandwich could go from “normal” to “over the top” just by adding a few…interesting…Thai-inspired ingredients!

So What Exactly Is IN This Grilled Thai PB&J Sandwich Sandwich?

Because I was curious, I decided to try and make a copycat grilled Thai PB & J sandwich myself in the comfort of my own kitchen and so I did! We have a WINNER! I have made this sandwich MANY times now, for friends and family, and they have always been surprised at how good it is!

Here’s the partial cast of characters: Peanut Butter, Orange Marmalade, Curry Powder, Sriracha Sauce, and fresh Basil. I know…weird, huh?  Sounds like some definite Thai inspired flavor combos going on. You will also need some good bread and some butter for grilling, of course!

Some of the key ingredients for the Thai PB & J sandwich.
Crazy, huh? But trust me, this is an absolutely delicious “Gourmet Grown Up Version” of the traditional PB&J Sandwich that you will LOVE if you like Thai flavors. You just have to try this at least once. This is definitely NOT YOUR MAMA’S PB&J sandwich!!!!

Making it is super easy (the pictures aren’t glamorous, but how do you class up a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Here’s how:

How To Make A Grilled Thai PB&J Sandwich

First, spread one piece of bread with butter on one side, then coat the other side of the bread with peanut butter. Spread some of the sriracha sauce on top of the peanut butter. Place the bread, butter side down, in a large skillet on medium heat.

Peanut butter and sriracha sauce are spread on one side of bread.

Lightly sprinkle on some curry powder. I never measure it. Just be careful to sprinkle lightly. You don’t need a lot.

Curry powder is lightly sprinkled onto peanut butter.

Roll up a couple of large fresh basil leaves into a tight roll like this…

Fresh basil leaves are rolled before cutting to add to sandwich.

Then slice the rolled basil into thin strips. The technical term for this is to “chiffonade” the basil.

Basil is sliced into thin strips before adding to sandwich.

Add Basil And Marmalade!

Evenly sprinkle the basil over the peanut butter side. Spread a layer of orange marmalade (I used my own homemade marmalade!) over the basil. The photo below shows the marmalade halfway spread on the sandwich. Spread the entire slice of bread with the marmalade.

Sliced basil leaves and orange marmalade added to PB&J sandwich.

Ready To Grill!

Butter one side of the second piece of bread and place it on top of the sandwich, butter side up. Grill the sandwich on both sides (just like you would a grilled cheese sandwich). I usually grill it on medium-low heat.

Grilled THAI PB&J Sandwich cooking in skillet.

Grill until both sides of the sandwich are toasted and golden brown. Transfer the sandwich from the skillet onto a serving plate.

Grilled THAI PB&J Sandwich is cooked until golden brown on both sides.

Time To Eat!

Slice the Grilled Thai PB&J Sandwich diagonally across to form two triangles. Yes, it might be a bit messy…but that’s great, because the sandwich is so GOOD! Take a bite, and enjoy this delicious sandwich.

Grilled THAI PB&J Sandwich is sliced in half and served. Messy, but good!

It’s still hard to believe that this crazy sounding grilled “Thai” PB&J sandwich is so amazingly GOOD, but it’s true! I’ve made this sandwich at least twenty times since I took that first tentative bite, and it never fails to be ridiculously delicious! I hope you will give it a try. 

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you will be able to come back again soon for more recipes. Don’t forget to check out the Recipe Index, located at the top of the page to see ALL of my recipes. Have a great day.

Interested In More Recipes?

Thank you for visiting this website. I appreciate you using some of your valuable time to do so.  If you’re interested, I publish a newsletter 2 times per month (1st and 15th) with all the latest recipes, and other fun info. I would be honored to have you join our growing list of subscribers, so you never miss a great recipe!
There is a Newsletter subscription box on the top right side (or bottom) of each blog post, depending on the device you use, where you can easily submit your e-mail address (only) to be included in my mailing list.

You Can Also Find Me On Social Media:

Facebook page: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Pinterest: The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Instagram: jbatthegratefulgirlcooks

Author's signature

↓↓ PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW ↓↓

0 from 0 votes
PRINT
Grilled "THAI" PB&J Sandwich
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
10 mins
 
A Grilled "Thai" PB & J Sandwich is a delicious, grown up, gourmet version of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sounds strange, but tastes GREAT!
Category: Sandwich
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: thai pb&j sandwich
Servings: 1 sandwich
Calories Per Serving: 366 kcal
Author: JB @ The Grateful Girl Cooks!
Ingredients
  • 2 slices good quality bread
  • butter (to spread on one side of each piece of bread)
  • peanut butter (enough to cover one piece of bread
  • orange marmalade (enough to cover one slice of bread)
  • 1/2 - 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (hot chile sauce found in Asian section of grocery store)
  • curry powder (I don't measure...just light sprinkle over one side of bread)
  • 2 large , fresh basil leaves
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Spread one side of one piece of bread with butter. Place butter side down in skillet.

  2. Spread peanut butter on top of the slice of bread in skillet to cover. Spread sriracha sauce over the peanut butter evenly. Lightly sprinkle with curry powder. Roll and slice the fresh basil leaves. Sprinkle evenly over peanut butter. Carefully spread orange marmalade over sliced basil leaves. Butter one side of the second piece of bread. Put on top of marmalade, butter side up.

  3. Grill sandwich on medium heat, turning during cooking. Grill until each side is toasted and golden brown. Remove hot sandwich to serving plate. Cut on the diagonal, and serve! Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Grilled "THAI" PB&J Sandwich
Amount Per Serving (1 sandwich)
Calories 366 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 21mg7%
Sodium 576mg25%
Potassium 222mg6%
Carbohydrates 47g16%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 17g19%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 250IU5%
Vitamin C 4mg5%
Calcium 77mg8%
Iron 2.3mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Here’s one more to pin on your Pinterest boards!A Grilled "Thai" PB & J Sandwich is a delicious, grown up, gourmet version of the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sounds strange, but tastes GREAT!

 

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