BBQ Roasted Chicken

So...I have a big family. When I cook, I have to cook a lot. I didn't have a whole lot of time today, so I turned to my "go-to" ingredient: chicken. After using a package of 7 drumsticks and a small whole chicken, I added a brown sugar and BBQ rub chopped some veggies, and let it cook while I was in class. It was so great. For being in a hurry and doing a total improv of what to add for flavor, it was fantastic. I've tried to reduce the amount so it serves about 4 instead of 10.

Ingredients

4 chicken drumsticks

small bag of baby carrots (or you could chop up carrot sticks, your choice)

1 medium onion, chopped

3 or 4 Tbs. butter, melted

1/2 cup breadcrumbs, ground until it's pretty much sand

4 Tbs. paprika

4 Tbs. chili powder

1 Tbs. salt

1 Tbs. pepper

1 Tbs. garlic powder

1 Tbs. onion powder

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

4 Tbs. dry BBQ rub

1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat your oven to 350.

Step One: mix all your dry ingredients together until everything is even throughout.

Step Two: chop vegetables, melt butter, and set everything aside.

 

Step Three: brush melted butter onto both sides of drumstick, and

add a generous amount of rub.

Step Four: place your drumsticks into a well greased baking pot

(make sure your pot has a lid, and obviously is oven safe)

Step Five: Place your chicken in the oven and bake for 1 hour.

Pull out, add your vegetables, and bake for 20 more minutes.

Step Six: serve and enjoy!

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Santa Fe Quesadillas

I don't know about you, but I'm the person that pulls out cheese and tortillas and calls it good. However, today I was feeling a little bit adventurous and wanted to add something more solid to my sad daily diet of cheese and flour. I didn't have time to add shredded, slow cooker chicken since I had to run to class, so I went with a veggie quesadilla. The original recipe that I used called for chopped red bell pepper, but since I didn't have one I added cilantro instead.

Ingredients

2 flour tortillas

sliced or shredded cheddar (or pepper jack) cheese

1/4 cup whole kernel corn

1/4 cup black beans

fresh chopped cilantro

Step One: prep your corn, beans, and cilantro

On medium heat, place one tortilla in a sprayed pan. Layer your

cheese, beans, corn, and cilantro. Cover with your other

tortilla. Cook until tortilla is a golden brown, then flip. Cook

for about three more minutes then take off the heat.

Slice into quarters and serve with salsa or sour cream. Enjoy!

To view the original recipe, to go:

Allrecipes: Santa Fe Tortillas

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Amazing Mussels

I know what you're all thinking: "Seafood is so expensive! How is this cheap?" Oh darling readers, have more faith in me. Walmart has pre-cooked, 2 pound bags of mussels for $3.25. Yes people, 2 pounds for $3. I'm your favorite, I know. Now that I've had my prideful moment, let's get down to business. This recipe is rich in flavor and protein, and I made it even more so by adding shrimp. My siblings usually turn their noses up at seafood, but they actually liked this recipe, which is seriously saying something!

Ingredients

1 pound of mussels

1 Tbsp. butter

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

1 cup beef or chicken broth (I used bouillon)

1 or 2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 green onion, chopped

3 Tbsp. flour for thickening

1 Tbsp. greek yogurt or 2 Tbsp. light cream

Pepper to taste

Step One: Melt the butter in a large pan, adding garlic and onion. 

Cook until a light golden color, stirring constantly.

Add 1/2 cup of broth, red pepper flakes, and greek yogurt.

Dissolve the flour in the other 1/2 cup of broth and stir into pan.

Let simmer for 5 minutes or so.

Step Two: If you used the pre-cooked mussels from Walmart, you're

good to just toss them into your sauce! If you'd like to be a copy cat

(which is awesome, nothing wrong with that) and add shrimp, throw

them in with your mussels. Cook them for about 5 more minutes

so they can soak in all that delicious flavor!

Step Three: You can serve it over pasta or simply eat it straight up!

Enjoy!

To view the original (and more expensive) recipe, go to: All Recipes: Amazing Mussels

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French Toast Roll Ups

I'm going to be honest here, I am NOT a breakfast person (or a morning person, but that's beside the point). In the rare occasions I eat breakfast, I can guarantee that it'll be a toasted bagel with cream cheese. But of course cream cheese can be pricey, so I don't eat breakfast. While going through a millions of food items on Pinterest, I found this lovely recipe, and decided to give it a try. Be warned: the recipe called for 8 pieces of bread, but I could barely finish two because they're so filling!

Ingredients:

8 slices of white sandwich bread (I used wheat, since it was all I had)

2 eggs

3 Tbsp. milk

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

well greased pan

any filling that your heart desires

Place the egg and milk into a wide and shallow bowl (so you can dip the rolls)

and beat lightly.

Combine the sugar and cinnamon together in a separate bowl.

Step One: cut off the crusts of your bread slices. Using a rolling pin,

roll your bread until it's flat(ish).

Step Two: Add the fillings of your choice, making sure that the 

bulky items (such as bananas, jam, and chocolate chips) are placed on

one side of the bread. Roll up.

Step Three: Dip the bread into the milk and egg mixture, but don't 

soak it. Roll in the cinnamon and sugar until nicely coated. 

Cook in a greased pan on medium high, rotating until each side is

a golden brown color and has a crisp texture to it.

Step Four: Serve with syrup and, like always, enjoy!

To view the original recipe, go to:

 www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/french-toast-roll-ups/#ixzz2NRq5IHS7

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Shrimp and Fruit Salad

This is a typical Kara dish. I love shrimp. Like....love love shrimp. I could eat it all day every day. But it can be a little pricy so I have to stop myself from eating it as much as I would like. This "recipe" (or "Kara's-hungry-but-has-no-food-to-her-name" dish) is very cheap and beyond easy.

Ingredients

4 or 5 shrimp

fruit (I got a 1 lb. bag of frozen fruit at the dollar store)

iceberg lettuce

raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing

whatever seasonings you want on your shrimp

Saute your shrimp and set them aside. Tear apart a bowl of lettuce and place shrimp on top. Toss on your fruit, and drizzle on your dressing. Told  you it was simple.

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Coffee Cake in a Cup

So....I know it's supposed to be in a cup...but I don't owe any pretty cups so out of embarrassment I put this fabulous concoction in a small square bowl. I found this and many other single serving desserts (no worries, I post more of them) on this fabulous website:

http://lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.com

So if you don't want to wait for me, go ahead and visit her blog. She's adorable.

Anywhoozers, this is the first time I've made this, and it will probably be one of a million times. It literally takes 3-5 minutes to make from beginning to finish.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. melted butter

2 Tbsp. sugar

1/2 egg

2 Tbsp. sour cream

a few drops of vanilla

1/4 cup flour

1/8 tsp baking powder

Mix all the above ingredients in your cup.

Crumb Topping:

1 Tbsp. butter

2 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

Mix together the topping ingredients and put on top of the cake mixture, then throw in the microwave for 1 minute (give or take 10 seconds depending on how moist you want it).

Enjoy!

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Apple Enchiladas

I made these forever ago and realized I forgot to post them! These are fabulous not just for dessert but for breakfast as well (just don't tell my mom I said that, she thinks they're "too sweet" for breakfast). These are great for the days you want something delicious today, tomorrow, or yes, next week (if you refrigerate it of course). These do take time, but half of it is the "enchiladas" sitting in the sauce before they bake

Ingredients

1 can apple pie filling

6 large tortillas

1 tsp cinnamon powder

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup water

preheat oven to 350.

Step one: Place a sauce pan over medium heat, combining butter, both sugars, and water.

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and let it simmer for 3 minutes.

Take it off the heat and set aside.

Step Two: scoop 1/4 cup (or less) of apple pie filling down the middle of each tortilla.

Sprinkle cinnamon on top, roll the tortilla up, tucking in the edges. Lay in a greased pan

"seam side" down.

Step Three: Pour the sauce on top of the enchiladas. Make sure to cover the sides as well.

Set on the counter for 45 minutes so the tortillas can soak in as much of the sauce as it can.

Step Four: Bake in oven for 20 minutes.

I made this as Sunday dessert for my never ending family, who couldn't get over how much

they loved these. Definitely a winner!

To view the original recipe, visit: Cornfed Mama

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