Thai Green Curry Chicken

Here is a quick weeknight curry dish. It was colder and rainy today in Ohio, and I wanted a meal with some spice in it to get us through the evening.

Thai Green Curry Chicken

1 lb chicken breasts
1 green pepper
1 can bamboo shoots
1 15oz can light coconut milk
1 cup chicken stock
2 tbsp green curry paste (I use Thai Kitchen brand)
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
5 thai chilies

Roast the chicken at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Meanwhile dice the green pepper into 1 inch pieces. Saute green pepper, and curry paste in large skillet for 3-4 minutes. Add half the can of coconut milk, chicken stock, fish sauce, and sugar. Simmer for about 10 minutes on low heat. When chicken is ready, dice and add to pan. Add the rest of the coconut milk, chilies, and bamboo shoots and heat through. Serve with steamed rice.

Homemade Pizza Night

I was craving pizza, and wanted something that wasn't so terrible for the waistline. I went ahead and made my own pizza, so I would know exactly what was going into the pizza.

Veggie Pizza

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 zucchini
1/2 vidalia onion, diced
1 small green pepper, diced
1 refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 cup prepared pizza sauce
2 tsp tuscan spice blend
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

I sauteed the onion, zucchini, and green pepper in oil for about 5 minutes. Add spice blend and pepper to veggies. Spread pizza dough onto greased cookie sheet. Top with sauce, veggies, and cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.


Margarita Pizza

1 refrigerated pizza dough
1/2 cup prepared pizza sauce
1 tsp tuscan spice blend
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 roma tomatoes, with seeds removed
1 bunch fresh basil
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese


Spread pizza dough on greased cookie sheet. Top with tomato, garlic, basil, spice blend, and top with cheese. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Top with an additional sprinkle of fresh basil.

Pomegranate Martini

I had this martini at Carrabba's Italian Grill, and knew I had to try and remake it at home. They used Absolut Apeach Vodka, but I didn't want to buy a whole bottle for just one drink. I made my own with a can of peaches and Grey Goose vodka.




Pomegranete Martini

1&1/2 oz Grey Goose vodka/peach blend
3 oz 100% pure pomagranate juice
2 oz orange juice
1&1/2 oz 7-Up

I blended the Grey Goose and peach mixture in blender until smooth. Mix ingredients into shaker with ice, and serve in chilled martini glasses!!! Enjoy!

Blogging with a Purpose-My first award!!

I am so excited to get my first award!! Thanks so much to Maryanna of Taste & See. You can check out her blog. She is a pharmacist like me, and enjoys eating great food and traveling.

http://maryanna-bishop.blogspot.comI am giving this award to 5 blogs that I enjoy reading.

1-Liz at http://lizscookingblog.blogspot.com
She has some great recipes listed that i have starred. The lemongrass chicken looks awesome, and Hung's Clay Pot Rice.


2-Kevin at
http://closetcooking.blogspot.com

He has many great recipes. I enjoy all of the Asian influence dishes.

3-I also enjoy
http://www.columbusfoodie.com/

This blog makes me want to go to all the farmer's markets this summer to get all of the goodies she has found.

4-http://dinnerwiththebickfords.blogspot.com/
I enjoy many of the Thai recipes

5-http://thebuddingcook.blogspot.com/Check out this blog for some great looking Indian dishes


Award-winners, here's what you should do:
1. nominate 5 blogs which haven't had this award before
2. each of the blogs must have a purpose
3. the nominated blogs must make a link back to this page
4. the logo from the award must be put on their blog and it must link back to this blog!

Tilapia Sandwiches & Oven Roasted Potatoes

My husband and I are trying to incorporate more fish and healthy items into our diets. These fish sandwiches were great!!! The meal was quick and easy for a weeknight dinner.

Tilapia Sandwiches
4 tilapia fillets
4 wheat buns
1 tomato
2 slices red onion
handful romaine lettuce
tarter sauce
salt
lemon pepper

Sprinkle tilapia fillets with salt and lemon pepper. I grilled the fish on my George Foreman grill for about 6 minutes (they were frozen). Toast buns in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. Assemble sandwiches with tarter sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and fish. Enjoy!!

Oven Roasted Potatoes
6 medium red skin potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash and dry potatoes. Quarter potatoes, and place on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper on potatoes and toss. Cook for 30 minutes.

Rigatoni with Cannellini Beans & Spinach

I wanted to try to use up some of the items I have in my pantry. This dish was a great way to use up some items that I keep meaning to use, but never make it on a menu.

Rigatoni with Cannellini Beans & Spinach
Source:ME

1 lb rigatoni
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp tuscan spice blend
1/2 lb fresh spinach
15 oz can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 roma tomatoes, diced
pepper

Cook pasta according to package directions. Saute shallots, garlic, red pepper flakes, and spice blend in oil for 2-3 minutes. Add beans, spinach, and 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. When pasta is done, add back into pan with diced tomato. Toss and serve.

Pork Chops with Raspberry Mustard Sauce, Roasted Broccoli & Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Sorry about the shadow on the picture!
This meal helped me get through a rough night after work. I was exhausted and I had the rest of the weekend to work and be on call. I was ready to get take out but my husband was really craving the pork chops I had in the fridge. It turned out as a great blessing. Cooking the meal made me forget for a little while about work, and just relax and cook and eat a great tasting meal!! I got the idea for this sauce from one of Rachael Ray's talk shows. It was one of the bottom of the jar recipes. I added the shallots and beer to get all of the great pork bits from the pan. I stole some of the beer from the bottle my husband was drinking!! The pork chops were wonderful. I served it with my easy garlic smashed potatoes, and our favorite way to have broccoli which is roasted.

Pork Chops with Raspberry Mustard Sauce
4 boneless pork chops
1 shallot
2 tablespoons Smithwich's beer
2 tsp raspberry jelly
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

I pan seared the pork chops on medium heat for about 4 minutes per side. Removed the chops from the pan and added 1 diced shallot and the beer. Cook the shallots for about 2 minutes. Meanwhile mix jelly, mustard, vinegar, and salt/pepper to small plastic container and shake until well mixed. Add mixture back to the pan. Drizzle mixture over pork chops and serve.

Garlic Smashed Potatoes
5 medium size red skin potatoes
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup milk
handful of shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Wash and cut potatoes into about 2 inches chunks and add to cold water. Add garlic with potatoes and boil for 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and add milk until the consistency desired. Mix in cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.


Roasted Broccoli
broccoli (florets and stems)
olive oil
salt and pepper

Wash broccoli, removed any leaves and cut 1 inch off broccoli and discard. Cut the remainder of florets and stems into 2 inches pieces. Place on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.