CASHEW CHICKEN

Everyone loved, loved this!  There wasn't much left.  If have company over..double recipe.  Found the chicken in the freezer section - used the whole bag.  Think this would be a good recipe to replace chicken with beef and bell pepper with broccoli.  We liked without the green onions.  Took about 30-40 minutes from start to finish.  Good with steamed broccoli, peas and corn.

UPDATE: Would have this any day over Safeway chinese.  Yum!  Good with chicken breast as well.  I didn't have green onions so used celery (added with bell pepper).  Also did some slivered almonds because I only had salted cashews (did any some).  Used Soba noodles (3 pak).  Didn't chop up water chestnuts.  Would be a good meal to take to a family.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/cashew-chicken/

Prep: 5 Minutes	Level: Easy
Cook: 10 Minutes	Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Low Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 Tablespoon Rice Vinegar
• 1 Tablespoon Packed Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Oyster Sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon Toasted Sesame Oil
• 3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
• 6 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs, Cut Into Small Cubes
• Kosher Salt To Taste
• 1 Tablespoon Chopped Garlic
• 1 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Ginger
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Chopped
• 1/4 cup Sherry Or Chicken Broth
• 2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 cup Drained Canned Water Chestnuts, Coarsley Chopped
• 1 cup Unsalted Cashews (be Sure To Use Unsalted)
• 2 whole Green Onions, Thinly Sliced
• Cooked Rice Or Noodles, For Serving (if Desired)

Preparation

In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and sesame oil. Set aside. 

Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat and add the chicken in a single layer. Sprinkle with a small amount of salt, then leave it alone for at least a couple of minutes to give the chicken a chance to brown. When the chicken has turned golden, stir it around so that it can brown on all sides. Throw in the garlic and ginger and stir to combine. Stir in the bell pepper and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.

While the pan is still hot, pour in the sherry. Stir it around, scraping the bottom of the pan to loosen all the flavorful bits. Turn the heat to medium-low and pour in the sauce mixture, then mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup water to make a slurry and pour it in. Stir the sauce for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken, then add the water chestnuts and cashews and stir to coat everything with the sauce, adding a splash of water if the sauce is too thick.

Finally, sprinkle on the green onions. Serve with cooked rice or noodles.


CHINESE CASHEW CHICKEN 
https://www.melskitchencafe.com/chinese-cashew-chicken-30-minute-meal/

We all loved this especially Scott.  I doubled the recipe so we would have enough for lunches.  I also added celery, frozen broccoli and sugar snap peas.  I also used roasted garlic.  If the cashews are salted - rinse them first.  I roasted them by toss them in 1-2 tsp oil and roast at 200 for 5-10 minutes.  Had pineapple on the side.  Would be good with yakisoba noodles.  Abagail didn't like the cashews so next time I will not add and just have everyone put some on their dish if they want.

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 to 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• 1/2 to 1 tablespoon grated or finely chopped fresh ginger (or ginger paste from a tube)
• 2 green bell peppers, seeded, cored and diced into bite-size pieces
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups roasted cashews (I prefer unsalted)

SAUCE:

• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 cup oyster sauce
• 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)

1. Place the diced chicken in a medium bowl and toss with the 1 teaspoon cornstarch and 1 teaspoon baking soda. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.
2. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a bowl or liquid measuring cup. Set aside.
3. Rinse the chicken in a colander and pat dry (I leave the rinsed chicken in the colander, grab a bunch of paper towels and dab all over the surface, kind of turning the chicken as I pat dry).
4. In a large, 12-inch nonstick skillet heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. You want the skillet very hot.
5. Add the chicken in a single layer and stir constantly; the chicken should turn white as it cooks – but not get overly brown. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes (it’s ok if it isn’t fully cooked yet; it will cook more in the next few steps).
6. Scoot the chicken to the edges of the pan. Add another drizzle (a teaspoon or so) of olive oil to the center of the skillet.
7. Add the garlic and ginger to the center of the skillet and mash gently as it cooks, about 30 seconds.
8. Add the green peppers; stir to combine the chicken, garlic/ginger, and peppers.
9. Whisk the sauce to recombine, and add it to the skillet. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened, the chicken is cooked through, and the peppers are crisp-tender.
10. Remove from the heat, add the cashews, and serve over hot, cooked rice (if desired).

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CUPS

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE CUPS
We got lots of strawberries from bountiful baskets.  Have always wanted to make strawberry shortcake.  It made a perfect Sunday night meal.

Recipe found in Taste of Home Contestant Winning 2006 pg 219.

1 qt fresh strawberries
4 T sugar, divided
1 1/2 cup flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup cold butter
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
Whipped Cream (cool whip or dream whip works too)

Mash or slice strawberries.  Add 2 T of the sugar and put in fridge until ready to eat.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and remaining sugar; cut in butter util crumbly.  In a small bowl, beat egg and milk; stir into flour mixture just until moistened.

Fill eight greased muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 425 for 12 min or until golden brown.

Remove and cool on wire rack.

Just before serving, split the shortcakes in half horizontally.  Spoon berries and whipped cream between layers and over the top.

BREAKFAST BOWLS

BREAKFAST BOWLS
http://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/2016/02/hearty-make-ahead-breakfast-bowls/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+30handmadedays+%2830days%29

My family loved these!  I added a meat to it as well.  I had Yukon Gold potatoes on hand.  Forgot to add the salsa.  Would be good. I added spinach to the eggs. Would be good with peppers added.  We liked the potatoes so much when we had waffles a couple of days later I made the potatoes to go with them.

Hearty Make Ahead Breakfast Bowls

 

Print

Ingredients

• 3 lbs. red potatoes, cubed
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• pepper to taste
• 9 large eggs
• Olive oil spray
• 1½ cups salsa
• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
2. Cut red potatoes into 1 inch cubes.
3. Put in a bowl, add 1 Tbsp olive oil and mix to cover well.
4. Bake for 45 mins or until golden brown, stirring once.
5. Make scrambled eggs - whisk 9 eggs and add to pan with olive oil spray.
6. Sprinkle with pepper to taste.
7. Add potatoes, eggs, salsa if desired and cheese over 6 bowls.
8. Store in fridge for up to a week.
9. Reheat at 30-45 seconds in the microwave.

SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCK POT CHICKEN

SWEET HAWAIIAN CROCK POT CHICKEN
This is delish & so easy!  Can easily be doubled or tripled.  I made a stir fry to go along with it and some rice.  Thought it would be better if the sauce was thicker.  Next time I would either add 1-2 tsp of cornstach (added to 1/4 c cold water and stirred) or transfer liquid to a pot with cornstarch mixture and bring to a boil.  Can layer it to make a yummy rice bowl.

2# chicken tenderloin chunks (I had some frozen breast in the freezer just threw them in- not cubed)
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup soy sauce

Combine all together, cook on low 6-8 hours (I did about 10 since it was frozen - could have been less).  Serve with rice.


Here is the stir fry I did:
-spinach
-broccoli
-zucchini
-yellow squash
-carrots
-mixed nuts
-wish I would have had celery
-oil
-sesame oil

BREAKFAST BUNDT CAKE

BREAKFAST BUNDT CAKE

We liked this.  Scott wouldn't try it because he thought it was weird with the blueberries.  I told him fine..more for us :-)  It taste like a doughnut.  We  liked it better cold.  Kept in fridge.

1 box white cake mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup melted butter, cooled
¾ cup buttermilk or milk
1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 3.4- to 3.9-oz. pkg. vanilla or white chocolate instant pudding mix
1 ½ cups blueberries

Maple Glaze

2 cups powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon maple flavoring
2–4 tablespoons milk
Decoration
5 pieces of bacon, cooked and chopped for decoration


1.   Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a Bundt pan.

2.   Sift cake mix into a small bowl to remove any lumps; set aside.

3.   In a large bowl, combine eggs, butter, buttermilk, sour cream, and vanilla extract.

4.   Add cake mix, cinnamon, and instant pudding mix; stir until combined.

5.   Fold in blueberries.

6.   Dump batter into prepared Bundt pan and spread evenly.

7.   Bake for 38–50 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

8.   Let cool in pan, then turn out.

9.   Maple Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, butter, maple flavoring, and 2 tablespoons milk together until smooth. If too thick to pour, add more milk.

10.  Pour glaze over cooled cake and top with chopped bacon.