19: Pesto Chicken

I wasn't really sure what to make for dinner, so I opened up the cabinets.  I saw some pesto and thought that Pesto Chicken would make a great dish to try out.   Sorry for the lack of pictures, but this was really more of an impromptu dish.

Ingredients:
Pesto Mix
4 chicken breasts
Mozzarella cheese
Olive oil
S&P

The How To:
Preheat oven to 405.
Line a pan with aluminum foil
Add the chicken -spray with olive oil and sprinkle with S&P
Put about 1 tbsp pesto on top of each of each chicken breast
Cook for 40 minutes
Top with mozzarella cheese and cook for an additional five minutes

Enjoy.

This dish turned out great.  It's super easy and delicious.  Not to mention, this dish was Will approved!  If you are curious this was served with quinoa salad and brussel sprouts.

18: Veggie Casserole Bake

Second new dish in one day?! WHAT?!  I've gone nuts.


I had a couple of extra squash that I needed to eat so I started looking up a few recipes when I found this one for Summer Squash Casserole.  I totally changed the whole recipe up, but I thought I'd reference it just for kicks.

Ingredients: 
2 yellow squash
2 zucchini
1 jalapeno 
1/2 green bell pepper
1 tomato
1 can cream of chicken soup
S&P
8 oz sour cream (4 oz would be better)
Olive Oil
Panko
1/4 cup shredded cheese

The How To:
Preheat oven to 350.  

Dice squash, zucchini, jalapeno, green pepper
Bring some water to a boil and add the diced veggies for about 10 minutes
Grab a casserole dish
Stir in the chicken soup, sour cream, little olive oil and S&P

Stir in the boiled veggies and mix in the cheese
Top with Panko
Bake for about 35 minutes or until the mixture is bubbling

I very seldom make casseroles, so Will was pretty excited about this one.  The only thing I would change is the amount of sour cream I used - otherwise we both really liked this totally made up dish.  
This dish is Will approved! 

17: Baked Fried Chicken

Brace yourself - I did two new dishes tonight! Crazy, I know.  

Who doesn't like fried chicken but doesn't like the fat roll that comes along with it?  Well.. if you answered yes to that question, then Baked Fried Chicken is for you.  

Ingredients:
2 Boneless chicken breast
*1/3 cup all-purpose flour
S&P
*1 tsp Seasoned salt
*1 tsp Paprika
Olive Oil
Buttermilk (gross, but delicious with this recipe - trust me)

*all measurements are approximate 

The How To:
Place chicken breasts in a bowl of buttermilk and let it soak for about 25 minutes
Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Grab a Ziploc bag and mix the flour, s&p, season salt and paprika and give it a little shake
Put some olive oil in the bottom of a pan (lined with foil, for easy clean up)
Shake excess milk off of the chicken and drop it in flour mixture.  Shake the bag until the chicken is totally covered and place in the pan
Bake for 20 minutes on each side

This was a very simple dish and it really tasted like a lighter fried chicken.  It was delicious, I wouldn't change a thing.  

This dish is Will approved.

16: Shrimp Spring Rolls

Let it be known that the title of this blog is "What Will Ate."  It is not "What Will Wanted to Eat," "What Will Planned to Eat" or "Will Thought of This Meal."  Most times this works out.  Tonight, well.. That was a different story.
I have tried Spring Rolls several places, and I am a big fan.  When I ran across this recipe, I was thought, that's cool - I'd like to try that.  When I went to the Dekalb Farmers Market and actually saw the rice paper wrappers, I was like.. OH YES! I am totally doing it.  So that's what I did tonight. 

Ingredients:

1 lb peeled shrimp 
Olive Oil
S&P
Rice papers - I only used 5
Some bean sprouts
Some cilantro leaves
Some sliced carrots
1/2 jalapenos, thinly sliced
1 cucumber (I was out so I didn't use one)

The Sauce:
1/4 cup peanut butter
1 tbsp soy sauce
5 tbsp water
1 tbsp sugar

The How To:

Preheat oven to 400.
Place shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil and S&P.
Cook for about 6 minutes - until shrimp are cooked through.

Clean off some place to make your rolls
Make a pile of shrimp, sprouts, cilantro, carrots, and jalapenos (think of an assembly line)
Get a clean, damp kitchen towel laid out to actually assemble your rolls
Fill a pan large enough for the wrappers with warm water 
One wrapper at a time, submerge the wrapper in the water for about 15 seconds
Remove the wrapper and place it on the towel
Lay the shrimp, and other ingredients in the wrapper and wrap it up

For the sauce, just whisk all the ingredients together and set aside for dipping


I knew this might not turn out well when I told Will we were having spring rolls and he had never heard of it.  I mean, the rice wrappers are sorta weird if you haven't ever had them before.  Will seriously looked sorta scared before he tried this one.  The first time he touched the rice paper he said (and I quote) "Umm... I think this is what an alien fetus would feel like."  Great.  Isn't that what you want your dinner to feel like?  
So, yes he HATED this dish.  I think that he would say this is the worst one yet. 

But, my opinion.. 
The rolls tasted exactly like when I have ordered them in a restaurant (woot woot for me!) and I would absolutely make these again.

15: Stuffed Tomatoes

 I don't really know where I got the idea for this meal.  I think I was watching some commercial (don't even remember which one) and had a thought that I bet Stuffed Tomatoes would be good.  I've made stuffed peppers before, but I have never made Stuffed Tomatoes. I decided that I would just follow a similar approach and a meal was born. 

Ingredients 
5 Large Tomatoes - bigger the better
1 lb lean ground beef
1 cup quinoa (I used half black and half white)
1 can green chilis
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 cup shredded cheese



The How To:

Cook the quinoa as usual (2 cups water, 1 cup quinoa - get to boil, let it simmer for 15 minutes covered) 
Brown ground beef as normal (remember to add water, and drain off the extra fat)
Preheat oven to 400
Cut the stem and tops off of 4 tomatoes and then scoop all the seeds out of the tomatoes
Place the seeds and juice into the ground beef (after it has browned)
Mix the chilis, black beans, quinoa, and other tomato (chopped) into the ground beef 
Grab a deep pot, start to boil water
Once boiling add the tomatoes and let boil for about 5 minutes
Remove tomatoes and fill with stuffing
Top with cheese and let it bake until the cheese melts (about 5-8 minutes)

This was an idea that turned out well for everyone.  It will be making another appearance in this household in the near future.  Needless to say, this dish is Will approved!

14: Chicken Piccata

I found a recipe that I thought looked delicious AND it showed that it is only 4 weight watchers points.  I don't know anything about weight watchers, but I mean 4 points doesn't sound like much.  So it's super healthy - EXTRA BONUS!  I decided tonight was the night to give Chicken Piccata a try.  

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 package portabella mushrooms 
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup white wine - I used Chardonnay (not pictured)
1 lemon
Gorgonzola cheese (not pictured)
1 tbsp butter
Garlic (to taste)
Parsley (I used dried)
3 tbsp capers
Paprika
S&P

*Just a reminder - my measurements are not exact. 

The How To:
For the chicken - 
Butterfly the chicken, and cut it into thin slices.  
Grab two small bowls
In one, whisk about 2 tbsp flour and 1 cup of broth until smooth
Put about 6 tbsp flour in the other dish
Dunk the chicken pieces in the broth mixture and then into the flour
Place the chicken in a large nonstick skillet
Cook until there is no pink in the middle - the time really depends on how large your slices are.  I cooked mine about 5 minutes per side, but they were on the thinner side.

The sauce-- 
Grab another large pan, melt the butter
Add mushrooms and cook until they start smelling delicious (you know what I mean)
Add garlic and wine and cook for about 2 minutes - until it has reduced a little
Add about 3 tbsp flour - and mix for about 2 more minutes
Stir in 1 cup broth, lemon juice, paprika, and Gorgonzola - bring to a simmer until the sauce has thickend ~ about 5 minutes
Stir in capers, parsley, and chicken - let it simmer for about 5 more minutes.

I served this over leftover Cauliflower Quinoa and it was seriously delicious.  I really could rave on and on about this meal. This might be my favorite "new" meal I've made this far. But it's a close battle with the Gnocchi.  Will also really liked it, but maybe not as much as me.  Needless to say, this dish is Will approved.

Just for fun.. Check out a band and song that we love.. 

They only seem to tour in Texas -- so if you happen to be in that area, check them out and then tell them to come to Atlanta. Here is a link to their tour.. I've never seen them in person, but I'd love to.

13: Cauliflower Garlic Quinoa

Blurry phone picture.. 

If you are looking for a very in depth main dish - this is not the spot.  But if you have a love for quinoa and cauliflower, look no further.  
I love risotto, but I haven't ever tried making it.  This might be as close as I have ever tried to do.  I saw this recipe for Creamy Cauliflower Garlic Rice, and thought I'd give it a whirl. 

Ingredients:
4 cups of cauliflower 
4 cups chicken broth
3 cups of water
1/2 cup milk
1 cup quinoa
2 tbsp butter
1 cup mozzarella cheese
garlic
S&P

The How To:
In a boiler - heat two cups of water and one cup of quinoa until it starts boiling
Cover and put on low heat for 15 minutes
Set aside

Served with blackened salmon, tomatoes, and argula salad

Bring chicken broth and one cup of water to a boil
Add the cauliflower and let it boil for about 10 minutes
Use a food processor to puree the cauliflower
In a large skillet, melt the butter and garlic
Let the garlic saute for about a minute, until fragrant
Add the pureed cauliflower, and add milk - this should be a creamy mixture
Season with S&P 
Pour over quinoa
Add cheese and stir

This dish is kind of a pain to make, but I thought it was absolutely delicious.  Will is not really into side dishes, but it is Will approved! 

12: Bubble Up Pizza

We were in the need for a quick meal (heard that before, right?)  And who doesn't love pizza.  So I thought I would try out this recipe for Bubble Up Pizza.  
I didn't use the cast iron skillet -- I used a Pyrex dish, so that might have made a difference in the way this recipe turned out... 

Ingredients:
1 can biscuits - Grands homestyle
1 can pizza sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 pack pepperoni slices
Oregano


The How To:
Preheat oven according to biscuit dough directions.  
Cut each biscuit into 8 pieces
In a bowl, mix up the dough pieces, sauce, about half the cheese, and toppings.  
Put the mixture in a dish (a skillet would work best, I think) and then top it with Oregano and more cheese.

Bake for about 5 minutes longer than the biscuits directions say -- Just until the dough is cooked through and the cheese is melted.
This is a little weird to cut, since you don't have a "true" crust.


This is a dish that Will really liked and I really wasn't a fan.  I thought that the dough tasted weird, but this dish was Will approved! 

If I made this again, I would do things a little differently.  But really, I think I just prefer pizza the old fashioned way -- with normal dough (not biscuits). OR if you are in a bind for a quick meal - then Felinni's is always a phone call away.  Or Domino's for you *OTPers.

*OTPers: Out of the Perimeter 'ers -- meaning, people that reside outside the constraints of I- 285. 

11 of 52: Pot Roast Stew

Cold day?  Pull out your crockpot and make some stew! 
I totally went on my own with this recipe.. And Will's family came over to judge.. 

Ingredients:
2 lb pot roast (not pictured)
1 can chicken broth
28 oz can diced tomatoes
S&P
Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper
Cumin
Garlic
Oregano
1 large Russet potato
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
2 jalapenos (not pictured)


The How To:
Throw it all in the crockpot on low for about 6 hours. 
I made some pasta under the stew.  Take it or leave it.


Sorry - didn't get any pictures before everyone dove in.. 

Burke family approved! 

10 of 52: Lemon Pepper Tilapia

If you ever need something easy, fast, and yummy - fish is the answer.  Tonight, I chose Tilapia (but just about any fish would do).  

Seriously, this might be one of the easiest recipes (with the fewest ingredients) that I will post.. It's a Monday, give me a break.












Ingredients:
Olive Oil
S&P
Lemon Pepper seasoning
Paprika seasoning
1 lb Tilapia



The How To:
Heat some olive oil in a large pan. 
Season the tilapia on both sides with the lemon pepper and paprika.
Put in pan.
Cook for about 3 minutes on each side.

Done.

Told you it was easy.  



And yes, this dish is Will approved.