Thursday, October 30, 2008

Tex-Mex Chicken Fingers

From "Fix, Freeze, Feast" by Kati Neville and Lindsay Tkacsik

Makes 3 entrees, 12 fingers each

1 tray (about 6 pounds) boneless, skinless chicken half-breasts
4 eggs, lihtly beaten
6 cups plain dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons ground cumin
3 tablespoons granulated garlic
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
3 (1-gallon) freezer bags, labeled

1. Rinse and trim chicken and cut each half-breast lengthwise into three strips. Set aside.
2. Place eggs in a shallow dish.
3. Combine breadcrumbs, cumin, garlic, chili powder, salt, and cayenne in a large bowl.
4. Dip each piece of chicken first into the egg and then into the breadcrumb mixture. Place breaded chicken pieces onto one or more baking sheets. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until solid.
5. Once the chicken fingers are frozen, remove from baking sheets and divide evenly among the 1-gallon freezer bags. Seal and return to the freezer.

TO COOK ONE ENTREE
1. Completely thaw one entree in the refrigerator.
2. Preheat the oven to 350.
3. Bake chicken fingers on a greased baking sheet for 30 minutes, or until chicken pulls apart easily and is no longer pink in the center of the thickest portion.

December Menu Plan (meeting date to be determined)

Janet
Chicken Cheese Soup
Beef and Broccoli Calzone
Chicken Cacciatore

Misti
Pulled Pork Chili
Chicken and Dumplings
Steak Stroganoff Pasta
Waffles, Pecan Sticky Buns (optional)

Kathleen
Chicken Lasagna Alfredo
Tex-Mex Chicken Fingers
Taco Soup

Jen
Meatloaf
Rouladen
Rosemary Roasted Chicken and Potatoes

Teressa
Chicken Parmigiana
Feta and Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Beef Barley Soup
Basic Red Sauce

October Meal Preps

Janet
Stromboli (4 halves) Bake from frozen like a pizza.
Four-Cheese Mac & Cheese (1 bag+bag of parmesan) Thaw and reheat.
Magic Meat (3 bags, 2 cups meat each) You have options--see the recipe link.

Misti
Autumn Bean Soup (1 container) Thaw and reheat. You may want to add additional spice or a can of diced tomatoes.
Spaghetti Pie (1-9x13 or 2-8x8) Bake at 350 until bubbly, about 35-40 minutes from thawed. Add an hour to baking time if you don't thaw.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup (1 container) Thaw and reheat. Stir and may need to add milk. Top with additional cheddar, bacon, green onions and sour cream if desired.
Lemon-Glazed Chicken See recipe. Saute chicken breasts in butter, add sauce and simmer.
Black Bean Burritos (1 pan+1 bag cheese) Top with cheese. Bake at 350 (covered?) until bubbly. Can bake from frozen.

Michele
Barbecue Beef & Beer Chili (1 container) Thaw and reheat.
Savory Beef & Mushroom Pie (1 pie) Thaw, cover with foil and bake at 375 for 35 min.
Chicken Cakes with Creole Sauce (1 bag+1 bag sauce) Saute cakes in butter until done. To the contents of the sauce bag, add 1/2 cup mayo and 1/2 cup sour cream.

Kathleen
BBQ Pulled Pork (1 container) Thaw and reheat.
Split Pea Soup (1 container+1 small container) Thaw and reheat.
Mango-Cranberry Chicken (2 bags) Thaw, simmer in skillet. Serve over rice or noodles (Asian flavors).

Jen
Hot Ham & Colby Sandwiches (1 bag, 12 sandwiches) Thaw and bake in foil 6-10 min. at 350. From frozen, bake 30 min.
Red Beans & Rice (2 containers) Thaw and reheat. Serve over brown rice.
Big O Beef (1 bag) Thaw and reheat. Serving suggestions: on toasted hoagie with provolone and sauteed onions; over mashed potatoes.

Teressa
Pumpkin Sausage Pasta (1 bag) Thaw and reheat. Cook 1 lb. penne and toss in sauce.
Creamy Garlic Shrimp (1 bag) Thaw and reheat. Cook 1 lb. penne and toss in sauce. Add milk if it separates.
Crockpot Maple Chicken Breasts Thaw and dump in crockpot. Cook on low for 8 hours.
Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes (1 bag, six halves) Bake at 425 until potatoes are heated through and nuts are toasted, 8 min. from thawed.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Hawaiian Chicken Strips

RecipeZaar Recipe #226170

SERVES 4 -6

4 cups Rice Chex, crushed to 1 2/3 cups
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 pinches cayenne pepper
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
2 (20 ounce) cans pineapple chunks
2 bell peppers, cut into 3/4 inch pieces (red or green)

1. Heat the oven to 400. In a large plastic bag, combine the cereal, coconut and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, mustard, and honey. Stir the chicken strips into the mayonnaise mixture. Place the strips in the bag with the cereal mixture, a few at a time, and shake until well coated.
3. Thread each strip onto a skewer with 2 chunks each of the pineapple and the bell pepper. Place the skewers on a rack in a shallow baking pan.
4. Bake 15-20 minutes or until the strips are no longer pink in the center. Remove to a platter and serve.

Creamy Garlic Shrimp

RecipeZaar Recipe #50794

SERVES 4 -6

1 1/2 lbs shrimp, cooked and peeled
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (more if you want spicy)
8 green onions, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons flour
3 cups milk
1/2 cup white cheddar cheese, grated
salt and pepper

1. Melt the butter in a large non-stick pan over medium heat.
2. Add the crushed red pepper and garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Remove from heat and add the flour.
4. Stir until well blended.
5. Add the milk a bit at a time and stir until smooth before adding more.
6. Return mixture to heat.
7. Add the shrimp, green onion and cheese and cook until the sauce has thickened and the shrimp is hot.
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve over cooked rice, noodles or toast.

Crock Pot Maple Chicken Breasts

RecipeZaar Recipe #81506

SERVES 6 -8

6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup real maple syrup
3/4 cup apple cider
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar

1. Combine maple syrup, apple cider, cider vinegar and brown sugar in a small sauce pot and heat until sugar dissolves.
2. Place chicken breasts in crock pot.
3. Pour liquid over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

From Kraft Kitchens http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/recipes/twice-baked-sweet-potatoes-111250.aspx

Makes: 4 servings, 1 stuffed potato half each

2 large sweet potatoes (1-1/2 lb.)
2 oz. (1/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, cubed
2 Tbsp. fat-free milk
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 cup PLANTERS Pecan Pieces

HEAT oven to 425ºF. Cut potatoes lengthwise in half; place, cut-sides down, in foil-lined 15x10-inch baking pan. Bake 30 to 35 min. or until tender.

SCOOP out centers of potatoes into bowl, leaving 1/4-inch-thick shells. Add Neufchatel cheese, milk, sugar and cinnamon to potatoes; mash until blended. Spoon potato mixture into shells; top with nuts.

BAKE 8 min. or until potatoes are heated through and nuts are toasted.