Anyone Can Cook

Want an EASY dinner that takes a minimal amount of effort, but looks like you slaved in the kitchen for hours! You should try our “go-to” pasta recipe. It’s so easy you could make it in your sleep!

Prep Time: 10 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes, Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients:

2-4 cups of pasta (you really can use ANY kind, I never use spaghetti/fettucini because I don’t like them).

1/2 jar of White Sauce (again, doesn’t matter)

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

2 chicken breasts, defrosted

1 tsp. Garlic Salt/Powder

Instructions:

Boil water for pasta (add salt and olive oil).

Add past to boiling water.

Defrost chicken and cut into 1″x1″ pieces.

Add about 1 tbsp. to skillet on medium heat.

Add chicken and coat with Garlic salt.

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Combine pasta, sauce, chicken and cheese.

Looking for an alternative to tacos that is quick and easy, but still captures the taste? Taco pie is the answer! Easy to make, easy to serve and easy for leftovers!

Prep Time: 20 minutes, Total Time: 50 minutes, Makes: 5-6 servings

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion (or less)

1 envelope taco seasoning

3/4 cup Bisquick baking mix

1 1/4 cup milk

3 eggs

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 head lettuce

1 tomato, diced (optional)

1/3 cup olives (optional)

Instructions:

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Grease square baking pan or pie pan.

Cook & stir ground beef & onion until brown.

Stir in seasoning.

Spoon into pan/plate.

Beat Bisquick, milk and eggs with whisk.

Pour over meat.

Bake until knife inserted comes out clean- about 25 minutes.

Sprinkle with cheese and cook for 2 additional minutes.

Top with lettuce, tomatoes, olives and sour cream, if desired.

My very favorite meal of all time (the one I request on each and every birthday) is Finger Lickin’ Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Caesar salad and Fruit salad. It’s nothing special, but my very favorite part of the meal is the rice. It mystifies my husband that I love this rice so much because it’s really nothing special, but it tastes great, it’s easy to make and you often find the ingredients already sitting in your fridge.

Prep time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 30 minutes, Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups Long Grain Rice (NO instant rice!) 
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
1 tsp. butter salt & pepper to taste 

Instructions:
Cook rice.
Chop vegetables.
Melt butter in skillet and add rice, vegetables, salt and pepper.
Cook on low for 10 minutes.

While on a wonderful dinner/shopping date to the Cheesecake Factory with my husband this weekend, I stumbled upon what I think might be sheer FOOD GENIUS! I am determined to try and re-create this recipe at home.

Here was the description on the menu:

PAN SEARED PORK TENDERLOIN
Covered with Pancetta, Fontina Cheese, Roasted Red Peppers and a Mushroom, Garlic Wine Sauce with a Touch of Cream. Served with Pasta.

I substituted the Pasta for mashed potatoes because 1) I’m not a huge pasta fan, and 2) Cheesecake Factory’s mashed potatoes are BOMB. I am seriously considering writing them a letter and letting them know the mashed potatoes suit the dish FAR better than pasta, and they should make a switch. Also, they should then name the dish after me. And let me have it for free everytime I come.

Anyway, the pork tenderloin was delicious, topped with delicious bacon-like pancetta and slathered in cheese! The garlic sauce was very flavorful but not over–garlicy, which is easy to do. I couldn’t even eat half of the dish, so I have leftovers for lunch today too!

If you’re headed to the Cheesecake Factory anytime soon, this dish comes highly recommended. Stay tuned for my attempt.

Holiday food can be grueling on your stomach. Everything is so rich, so sweet, so fattening! If you need something light and fresh to get you started on your New Year’s Resolutions and out of your over-eating rut, we’ve got a light and easy recipe for you!

Easy Garlic Chicken Caesar Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes, Total Time: 20 minutes, Makes: 2 servings

Ingredients:

1 bag Romain lettuce (or bag of salad mix)

1 cup Croutons

1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 

Caesar dressing (add to taste)

1 tsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1 tbsp. garlic powder

Instructions:

Divide lettuce between two plates.

Add cheese & croutons.

Defrost chicken breasts.

Add 1 tsp. Extra-Virgin Olive Oil to a skillet, turn burner to medium heat.

Cut defrosted chicken breasts into 1″ x 1″ pieces and add to skillet.

Sprinkle garlic powder on chicken pieces in skillet and cook on medium-high for 10 minutes until golden brown and slightly crisp.

Add chicken to salad, spread dressing and toss.