Sweet and spicy Shrimp Stir-fry

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 Tbs chicken broth or water

2 Tbs brown sugar

1 Tbs cornstarch

1 tsp chili-garlic paste

1 tsp sesame oil

1 Tbs vegetable oil

2 minced cloves of garlic

2 large red bell pepper

1 large onion

3 cups packed baby spinach

1 lb med shrimp, peeled and deveined

6 oz snow peas



1. Stir together soy sauce, chicken broth, brown sugar, cornstarch, chili paste, and sesame oil; set aside.



2. heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Cook garlic one minute. Add peppers and onions; cover and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally or until softened. Add spinach to skillet and cook until wilted.



3. Add shrimp and snow peas to skillet and cover; cook stirring occasionally for 4 minutes until shrimp is cooked through. Pour soy sauce mixture, stir and serve immediately.

Crispy bean burritos

2 cups cooked rice
1 cup salsa
1/3 cup chopped cilantro or 3 tbs dried
1 ripe avacado, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
Juice from one lime
6 taco-sized flour tortillas
1 cup shredded pepper jack or cheddar cheese
1 can (15.5 oz) black beans

Mix rice, salsa and cilantro in a bowl. In a small bowl mix avocado and lime juice. place tortillas on work table. Put 2 Tbs cheese in center of tortilla, top with 1/4 cup black beans, and 1/3 cup rice. divide avocado pieces among tortillas. Fold tortillas.

Spray a large skillet heated over med-high heat. Place 3 burritos, seam side down in skillet until lightly browned. Turn burritos over and cook 2 minutes. Repeat with other burritos.

Change

I find myself without enough time to blog everyday and since it's the heat of summer, I am not doing much cooking. So, I ahall instead post new recipes as I try them.

#34 - #41

#34 Leftover fajitas!

#35 Baked potatoes with sour cream, salsa picante, sharp cheddar and cilantro

#36 Stuffed bell peppers. I cut the tops and hulled out some bell peppers. Boiled them in hot water for 5 minutes. Filled with rice and leftover fajita beef. Cooked in 350F oven for 30 minutes.

#37 Leftover fajitas again.....

#38 Black bean soup that I kept in the freezer from the last time I made it with pico de gallo.

#39 Pinto bean soup :)

#40 Grilled brats(I recommed the Ingelhoffer ground mustard for brats) and went to a birthday party :)

#41 Tacos with red bell peppers.

#33 House Party!

Had a birthday/house warming party. Grilled beef and chicken fajitas with onions and bell peppers. Served with bean soup, rice, queso dip, rice and for dessert, cheesecake and key lime pie (see previous posting for pie recipe). Ironically, for the first time EVER I made good rice! All was good and had a good time! :) Unfortunately we made too much food, so we'll have lots of great leftovers.


Beef Marinade

Ingredients
3 limes, juiced
2 green onions, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground anise seed (optional)

Directions
1.In a medium bowl, combine the lime juice, green onions, garlic, cilantro, oil, red pepper, coriander, and anise. Whisk until well blended.
2.Pour mixture over your favorite meat, cover, and marinate for 12 to 24 hours before cooking as desired.


Rice

1 cup uncooked rice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups cold water
½ onion
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
¼ cup tomato sauce
Roma tomato, chopped into 8 pieces
1 teaspoon cumin powder (or seeds crushed into powder)
1 chili pepper, sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt to taste

Preparation:

Put the oil into a medium saucepan and heat to a medium temperature. Add the rice and brown it in the oil while stirring.

Add the garlic when the rice is nearly browned. Add the water, then the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Cover, with a small air escape, and turn the heat down to medium low.

Cook the rice for 20 to 30 minutes but check after 20 to see if it is ready.

You do not need to stir the rice or lift the lid while it cooks. It is ready when the rice is fluffy, all the water is gone, and the grains are split open (because of the browning).

(Serves 4)

Chicken Marinade

Juice of one lime
1 Tsp cumin
2 Tbs olive oil
1 tsp montreal steak seasoning
2 Tbs honey
1 1/2 tbs chopped cilantro
4 chicken breast halves

Combine lime juice, cumin, honey, oil and steak seasoning. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Coat chicken in marinade and refrigerate for 12 - 24 hours.

#28 - #32 chili, minestrone, fajita marinade

#28 Dinner out with friends

#29 Basic chili

1/2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 lb Ground Sausage ( I use mild)
1 Chopped Bell Pepper
1 Med Chopped Onion
2 Minced Garlic Cloves
8 oz. Tomato Sauce
15 oz. Can chopped Tomato or rotel
2 tsp Paprika
1 Tsp Sugar
1 tsp Oregano
1/4 Tsp Cayenne
1 cup water
1 Tsp Salt

Brown meat, onion, bell pepper, and garlic together. Drain fat. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.

#30 Vegetable Minestrone :)

1 large onion, chopped
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 cup cabbage, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 1/2 cups water
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
15 ounces garbanzo beans, drained
15 ounces tomato puree
8 ounces tomato sauce
3 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup small shell pasta or uncooked rice

Directions

1In a dutch oven or similar large soup pan, saute onion in oil for 2 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, zucchini and garlic, saute 3 minutes longer. Stir in the water, all the tomatoes, bean and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in pasta and cook 15 minutes longer. Garnish with cheese

#31 Tuna sanwiches! No time to cook, so much to the cats happiness (he always gets some) we had this standby :)Roland makes his with diced jalapenos.


#32 Green salad with diced ham and sharp cheddar We got a mixed salad at HEB with their meal deal coupons :)

#21 - #27

#21 Leftover pizza

#22 - 24 Roland was out of town, so I ate leftovers and foraged through what was left in the fridge.

#25 Wedding reception dinner. Grilled chicken with black bean sauce, awesome steamed vegetables, and rice.

#26 Jasons Deli with friends. I must put in a plug for their fruit cup with dip :)

#27 Copy Cat Pei Wei Sweet and Sour and Chicken. I looove Pei Wei's S&S chicken, but don;t want to buy it for dinner all the time. I found this recipe on a blog and we tried it today. Got a thumbs up from us both :)

Sweet & Sour Chicken

4 large or 6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 egg, beaten
cornstarch {enough to dip the chicken}
oil {enough for frying}
3/4 cup sugar
4 tbsp ketchup
1/2 cup vinegar
1 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder or 1 garlic clove
20 oz can pineapple chunks {fresh is BEST}
2 small or 1 large green pepper {cut in large cubes}
1 small yellow onion {cut in large cubes}
4 cups cooked rice {enough to serve with the sweet and sour chicken}

Cut chicken in 1-2 inch cubes. Coat chicken in egg then cornstarch. Pour some oil in a frying pan and fry chicken on high heat until brown.
Place chicken in a shallow baking dish. Mix sugar, ketchup, vinegar, soy sauce and garlic in a small mixing bowl.
Pour over chicken. Bake covered 350 for 45 minutes. Turn chicken every 15 minutes. Halfway thru the baking add pineapple,
pepper, and onion.

Serve over rice.