CHICKEN FAJITAS

This is an easy and flavorful meal the whole family can make together. Using just a few ingredients you can put dinner on the table in about 30 minutes. Nothing to prep ahead of time and nothing complicated.

This recipe uses three large chicken breasts and can easily serve six adults. Heat up some refried beans, some rice and you have a complete meal. If you have any leftovers, they're great for lunch!

To make shopping easier, use my handy printed shopping list. Click on the Shopping List tab above and you can print the pdf document.

For a printable recipe without photos, click here.

Ingredients:

3 large chicken breasts, boneless, skinless

1 Tablespoon oil

1 medium bell pepper

1 medium onion

3-4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 large tomato or several cherry/grape/pearl tomatoes

salt & pepper

cayenne pepper

ground cumin

1/2 cup dry white wine

Garnish / Toppings:

grated cheese (Cacique Queso Quesadilla, cheddar, jack, etc.)

fresh cilantro leaves

sour cream

guacamole

Directions:

Prep chicken: wash and pat dry; trim any fat; cut across grain in 1/2 inch slices then across again in bite size pieces. Season with salt, pepper, cayenne pepper and cumin. Set aside.

Peel and slice onion. Wash and slice bell pepper. Wash and slice tomato.

Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in large skillet. Use the largest pan you have. It needs to be wide and deep to hold all the ingredients without crowding. Heat on medium-high and throw the seasoned chicken into the hot oil and stir around.

Reduce heat to medium and allow chicken to start to brown. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Cook for about 8 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink. Remove from pan and set aside.

Heat pan to medium-high again and throw in the onions and peppers. Add more oil if necessary. Sprinkle with salt. Stir to prevent sticking and cook until the vegetables are softened a bit.

Once the vegetables are softened add the cooked chicken back to the pan and turn the heat to high. Now add the tomatoes and garlic and stir everything together. Pour in the wine and allow the liquid to reduce to nearly nothing.

Now grab a tortilla and fill it with this tender, spicy and sweet combination! Top with cilantro, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa, etc. Pair with some refried beans, rice or a salad and enjoy this fast and easy feast!

CRUNCHY CONFETTI SALAD

Fresh, crisp vegetables with a tangy vinegar dressing all mixed with a surprise of crunchy ramen noodles. Easy, economical and zero fat! Makes an easy summer side dish and is a great choice for potlucks. It travels well and you can double this recipe for a crowd.

For a printable version of this recipe without photos, click here.

Ingredients:

1/2 head green cabbage

1/4 head red cabbage

2 green onions

1/4 red bell pepper

1 carrot

1 package ramen noodles, uncooked

1 cup rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon sugar

Directions:

Open the package of ramen noodles. Put the uncooked noodles into a zip lock baggie. Use a rolling pin or mallet to crush the noodles into small pieces, but not into dust. Set aside.

In a bowl, mix together the rice wine vinegar, the sugar and ramen noodle seasoning packet. Stir well to combine. Set aside.

Remove any damaged outer leaves and the core of the cabbages. Thinly slice the cabbage and then cut crosswise into bite-size pieces. Put all the cut cabbage into a large bowl.

Wash, dry and chop the green onion. Slice the bell pepper into strips and then across into small pieces.

Peel and grate the carrot. I use a standard box grater. Throw all the chopped vegetables into the bowl with the cabbage. It looks colorful already!

Now add the broken, uncooked noodles to the bowl.

Pour the dressing over all and mix well to coat everything.

Serve chilled. This recipe can be doubled for a larger crowd. Enjoy!

MINESTRONE SOUP

Freshly made hearty soup filled with vegetables and flavored with simple herbs and spices. So easy and very tasty. If you have never attempted to make soup from scratch, start with this one. You can make this and enjoy lovely hot soup for several meals. I made a double batch and put some in the freezer.

For a printable version of this recipe (with an itemized ingredient list and without photos) click here.

Use whatever leftover meat and vegetables you have in your kitchen. I used about a cup of chopped ham, some carrots, celery, potato, cabbage, beans, peas and onion.

SPLIT PEA SOUP

SPLIT PEA SOUP w/HAM

Put this easy recipe together in your slow cooker in the morning and come home to a rich, hearty soup at the end of your day. So easy and delicious! This recipe is a good way to use the leftovers from the baked ham you made for dinner. If you didn't bake a ham, just buy a slice of ham at the grocery store. Get a piece that has a bone. This recipe is almost fool proof and a good recipe for a beginner.

To make shopping easier, use my handy printed shopping list. Click on the Shopping List tab above and you can print the pdf document.

For a printable verison of this recipe without photos, click here.

COLESLAW

Cool, creamy, crunchy. How good is this? So simple to make and so much better than the limp, watery, bland stuff you get in restaurants. Prep your vegetables ahead of time and add the dressing right before the meal. You will love this! Start with this basic recipe then change the ingredients to make it all your own. Good for barbecues, potlucks, summer meals or any time. Serve on the side or add to a barbecued chicken, pork or beef sandwich, yummy!

For a printable version of this recipe without photos, click here.

CORNED BEEF HASH & EGGS

Oh man! This is a great way to enjoy corned beef leftovers! I confess, I have never made corned beef hash. Like me, you may not know how a recipe will turn out, especially if you have never tried it. I am always optimistic at the outset and sometimes it turns out well and sometimes it doesn't. Since corned beef hash is such a great way to use up leftovers I really wanted to see if I could make it and here it is!

And yes, that is a homemade buttermilk biscuit you see on the plate in the photo above. Yes, it was tasty, and if I had the perfect recipe, I would share it with you. My mom made the world's best biscuits and I have been on a long quest to re-create that tender morsel of perfection. I'll let you know when I get there...

Now back to these lovely leftovers: this recipe is flexible and that means you can add more and different ingredients or cook your eggs separately or spice it up or tone it down to your liking.

For a printable version without photos, click here.

CORNED BEEF & VEGETABLES

Every year, corned beef is traditionally served for Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th. As much as I love tradition, I love a bargain even more! If you like corned beef, you can find it for a very low price the week before Saint Patrick's Day. I buy several and freeze the extras for later in the year.
Here is a very easy, basic dinner of corned beef, onions, potatoes, carrots and cabbage. It might also be called a New England boiled dinner, except, this is California and I put it all in a slow cooker.
Use your slow cooker for these types of meals and you'll not only save yourself time and effort, but it's economical as well. Next time, substitute a cut of roast beef or pork, instead of the corned beef, and you'll have a hot, delicious dinner waiting for you at the end of the day!

For a printable version of this recipe without photos, click here.