some recipes for you, because i expect some in return

Mindy is starting to cook more at home in order to save her family money, and her blog post just happens to coincide with a conversation I had with Hubby last night that went something like this: “I need to cook more often so that I can save us some money.”  Quite the coincidence, I dare say.  Although I’m sure most people I know would like to eat out less and make better, yummier, healthier food at home.

Anyway, I told Mindy that I wanted any great recipes she came across, and then I realized that I should start.  I mean, it is a little selfish of me to demand recipes from her when I’m supplying none of my own.  And I’m not just emailing her these recipes because I want all of you to jump in and help a girl out.  Heidi has an awesome cooking blog called Let’s Get Together, and it is for all you girls who are more organized and better cooks than me.  This post, and I hope your posts that follow, will be for easy recipes that I can handle.

Okay, I’ll go first.  Here are some that this novice cook can make:

#1: White Chicken Chili

(from a message board to which I used to belong)

(this also happens to be what is in my crockpot right now)

• 1 T. olive oil
• 3/4 lb. chicken breast, cubed
• 1 large onion, minced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cans great northern beans, rinsed & drained
• 1 c. dry white wine or chicken broth (you know which one this pregnant girl is using)
• 1 t. mustard powder
• 1 t. ground cumin
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/8 t. ground black pepper

1. Cook chicken until no longer pink.  Remove it and set aside. 
2. Add onion & garlic to skillet and cook until tender.  Place chicken, onion & garlic in crock-pot.  Add wine/broth, beans, mustard, powder, cumin, salt & pepper. 
3. Cook on low 5-6 hours.

Or when you’re feeling especially lazy:

1. Dump all ingredients in the crock-pot, including your frozen chicken. 
2. Cook on high at least 4 hours. 

Of course this isn’t as yummy, but it is yummier than McDonald’s, and oh so much healthier!

#2: Pizza Crust

from the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook.  I am not a baker.  The only thing I’m really good at baking is chocolate chip cookies and the occasional chocolate chip muffin.  I never had the notion to attempt homemade pizza crust or homemade rolls or anything like that.  But this recipe is really easy and I didn’t mess it up!  First time out and it tasted great.  Except that I used whole wheat flour and Hubby has requested normal flour for next time.  Anyway:

• 1 t. or 1/2 packet active dry yeast
• 4 c. all-purpose flour
• 1 t. kosher salt (I don’t have the fancy stuff and it turned out fine)
• 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1. Pour 1 1/2 cups warm water into a bowl.  Sprinkle the yeast over the water.
2. Combine the flour and salt in a mixing bowl.
3. Wtih an electric mixer on low speed, drizzle in the olive oil until just incorporated.
4. In a separate bowl, gently stir the yeast/water mixture and then drizzle it into the flour/oil mixture; mix until the dough forms a ball.  (You can also mix by hand until the dough comes together.)
5. Drizzle a little olive oil into a clean bowl.  Toss the ball of dough in the bowl and turn over to coat in oil.
6. Cover the bowl with a moist kitchen towel and set in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
7. To prepare the pizza, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
8. Divine the dough in half [my family used the entire recipe for our pizza].  Lightly drizzle oil on a pizza pan or rimmed baking sheet.
9. Using your hands, stretch the dough to the desired shape, pressing the dough into the pan with your fingers.  The thinner the better!  The surface of the dough should be lumpy from finger marks.  All the better to receive and hold toppings, my dear.
10. Lay the desired toppings over the dough and bake the pizza for 8 to 10 minutes, until the edges of the crust are golden brown.

#3: Mexican Chicken Casserole

I think I also found this one on that message board.  Pretty sure of that.

• 3/4 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1/2″ pieces
• 1 t. ground cumin
• 1 green pepper, chopped
• 1 1/2 c. salsa
• 2 oz. neufchatel cheese [I use 4 oz.]
• 1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
• 1 tomato, chopped [I use 1 large can of Rotel]
• 2-6″ tortillas [You'll probably need more.  I always use more because of the shape of my baking dish.]
• 1/2 c. finely shredded cheese

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.  Cook and stir chicken & cumin in nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat.  Add peppers, cook two minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in salsa and cook two minutes.  Add neufchatel cheese and cook two minutes or until melted.  Stir in beans & tomatoes.
2. Spoon 1/3 of the chicken mixture into 8″ square baking dish; top with one tortilla.  Then add the second-1/3 of the chicken mixture and top with another tortilla.  Finish by spooning the final-1/3 of the chicken mixture on top and sprinkling the cheese over that.  Cover with foil.
3. Bake 20 minutes or until heated through.

#4: Sloppy Joe’s (Joes?)

I think I found this one on recipezaar.com.  From here on out I’ll be better about cataloguing from where I got each of my recipes.  People deserve credit!

• 1 lb. ground sirloin [I only use hamburger meat and it still tastes delicious]
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2-3 t. steak seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small red pepper, chopped
• 1 T. red wine vinegar
• 1 T. worcestershire sauce
• 2 c. tomato sauce [I just use one 15- or 16-ounce can.  Less waste that way.]
• 2 T. tomato paste [Again, I just use one 8-ounce can.  Why waste?]

1. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add meat to the pan and spread it around.
2. Combine sugar & steak seasoning in a bowl, then add to the pan.
3. When meat has browned, add onion & peppers.
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, vinegar & worcestershire sauce with meat for five minutes.
5. Add tomato sauce and tomato paste to the pan.
6. Reduce heat to simmer and cook five minutes longer.

Okay, you peeps, I expect some recipes from you guys, too.  We all need new ideas.  If you post a recipe on your blog then post a comment on my blog so we can all check out eachother’s yummy ideas!  Here are the people I’m EXPECTING to post some recipes:

1. Mindy (of course)  –> yumminess here

2. Amanda –> her recipes are here.  she rocked out with tons of yummy ones!

3. Ang –> her recipes are here.  she finally put down the twilight series and ignored her kid long enough to post these.

4. Angela

5. Jessi

6. Heidi

7. Kristen

8. Niki –> she, like sami, is not trying to be friends with our waistline.  but this one and this one look sooo delicious.

9. Sami –> her yummy but not so healthy  recipes here

10. Kristine

Do not let me down!  I have tagged you and now you have to comply .