Saturday, February 26, 2011

Almost as Easy as Hamburger Helper

So the other night I didn't want to throw something together from scratch.  Then all of a sudden this brilliant idea hit me!  Archer Farms (Target) has this amazing rice packet that is soy, peanut, sesame, and malt free.  I could, with a little ingenuity, turn that into a *gasp* easy dinner.  Again, you're lucky I'm in a sharing mood, cause sometimes there are secrets you have to keep to yourself.  I served it with a side of vegetable tortilla chips.  The kids ate this meal like it was manna from Heaven.

Needs:  1 pkg Archer Farms Cilantro Lime Rice
             3/4 lb of chicken
             1 can dark red kidney beans (drained and well rinsed)
             1 tbs olive oil
             1/2 tbs crushed garlic
             colby jack cheese, to grate (to taste)

Prep:  Cube your chicken.  Rinse your beans.

Step 1:  Begin to cook your chicken in the olive oil and garlic in a medium saucepan.  Once the chicken is cooked on the outside, but still pink on the inside, add the kidney beans, and  follow the instructions on the rice packet making sure to omit the oil.

Step 2:  While the rice mixture is still warm, put on plates and grate cheese on top.  Serve with a side of veggie or corn tortilla chips.  Quick, tasty, who could ask for more??

Tasty Sweet Pepper Dish

I promise I'm trying to update on a semi-regular basis.  Sometimes it feels like I'm talking into the vast unknown of nothingness.  I'm hoping these recipes are ones that you'll use, enjoy, maybe even modify and make your own.  Feel free to comment and tell me if you tried one of the dishes I've posted, or maybe just click the little box under the blog.  I'd love to hear your opinions!

Tonight I tried something totally different, random, and EASY.  It turned out great, so I'm sharing.  Aren't you lucky?

Pork with Sweet Peppers (Feel free to substitute chicken or beef for this one)

Need:  1 lb pork (or chicken or beef)
           1/2 red pepper, 1/2 yellow pepper, and 1/2 orange pepper
           1 small onion
           1/2 tbs crushed garlic
           2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
           1 tsp ginger powder
           1 dash crushed red pepper flakes
           1 tsp salt (more if taste dictates)
           1 tsp pepper (more if taste dictates)
           2 tsp oregano
           1/2 cup soy sauce substitute


Prep:  Slice 1/2 red pepper, 1/2 yellow pepper, and 1/2 orange pepper into strips.  Dice a small onion into medium sized chunks, slice your meat of choice into thin strips and lightly season with salt and pepper

Step 1:  Saute your pepper strips, garlic, and onion in a tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan until the onions are translucent and the peppers are still slightly firm.  Remove from pan.

Step 2:  Add your meat to the remaining tablespoon of olive oil along with the ginger powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and oregano.

Step 3:  Once the meat is almost done, add the peppers mix back to your saucepan, and pour in your soy sauce substitute.  Let simmer for 5 minutes.

Step 4:  Serve over rice with broccoli or asparagus as a side!  Enjoy hot!