rice

One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

September 17, 2018

This creamy chicken and rice casserole is a fast and healthy 30-minute meal made right on the stove top, making it a favorite one-pot dinner that feeds a family of four for under $10.

This recipe is brought to you by Kroger

September is Hunger Action Month. As someone who has the access and the means to buy/grow/order food at my fingertips (or within a short walk or drive) every day of the week, this public initiative is a reminder that it isn’t nearly as easy for far too many. Helping others cure food scarcity is near and dear to my heart. And I hope to yours too.

So when Kroger asked me to participate in their #ZeroHungerZeroWaste donation challenge, I immediately said count me in. And now I’m challenging you to join too.

It’s one thing to donate that stray can of beans at the back of your pantry or the expired box of crackers. But it’s so much more to make healthful eating approachable and economical, showing families that there are better choices to easily cook and eat at home.

That’s why I’ve created this easy one-pot dinner to show you and those I’m donating it to that fast and easy dinners don’t have to come from a cardboard box, or sodium-loaded freezer meal, or be expensive.

They can just as easily come from real good, real food. And for many who are food challenged, most of the ingredients can be kept on hand in the pantry with little waste to be had.continue to the recipe… about One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice

Easy Lemon Rice Recipe

August 29, 2018

At our house, this easy lemon rice is a side dish staple and with just 5 ingredients, it’s a super simple way to jazz up plain old white rice any day of the week.

No matter where your set your plate, it’s likely that rice will be one of the side dishes served on any international dinner table.

This lemon rice makes regular appearances alongside so much of my main meal cooking, like my Greek marinated chicken, or as a basic side for my Greek pork souvlaki kebabs or turkey kofta skewers, and always with my Easy Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce.

But this lemon rice doesn’t travel only in Greek or Mediterranean circles. It’s a fan of crossing all culinary borders, and it does a fine job of fitting into any dinner no matter the main dish’s international personality.

continue to the recipe… about Easy Lemon Rice Recipe

Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps

February 20, 2018

This better-than-P.F. Chang chile-flavored orange chicken lettuce wrap recipe is incredibly easy to make thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker that does double duty as a self-serve, low-carb appetizer or as a healthy main meal that’s quick to make and even more fun to eat.

Just ask any three year old—or my 13 year old daughter’s best friend Elise who has yet to conform to the norm—eating with your hands is supremely gratifying.

Her parent’s say she’s “expressive and artistic.” I think she’s just laser-focus hungry and doesn’t want to play by anyone else’s rules. Either which way, lettuce wraps are a fun way to “nosh-on-it” and this Asian chicken lettuce wrap recipe proves it.

Because who says eating with a knife and fork should be the norm anyway? Cultures all around the world have eaten without utensils for centuries, and even more. Indian. Ethiopian. From Asia to Africa to the Middle East. As quoted in this New York Times article, cookbook author Julie Sahni emphatically states, “Eating with the hands evokes great emotion,” she says. “It kindles something very warm and gentle and caressing. Using a fork is unthinkable in traditional Indian eating. It is almost like a weapon.”

Okay. It looks like I need to give Elise a break. But I will NOT ease up on reminding her to wipe her hands and her face, even if I get that teenage “look” in return nearly every single time.

When Williams Sonoma Test Kitchens sent me their new The Instant Pot Cookbook to review, I was more than happy to say, heck to the yes, let’s do this. Their cookbooks are some of my very favorites and I regularly refer to their entire Dish of the Day series and every single Williams Sonoma cookbook authored by Kate McMillan who is one of my favorite recipe developers because of the series.

But this cookbook is different, just like the Instant Pot itself.continue to the recipe… about Instant Pot Orange Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

January 16, 2018

Thanks to the Instant Pot pressure cooker, this easy chicken with wild rice soup is rich, creamy (without any added cream), and fast to make, and it tastes even better the next day, making it a great addition to your meal prep plans. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, not to worry, I’m sharing my stove top directions as well.

It’s soup week!

This week I’m sharing a few of my favorite soups, old and new. And a good thing too, because when my daughter came home from school and looked at me with a red-ringed nose and her eyes at half-staff and announced her “throat was sooooooo sore”, as she breezed past me and coughed, wheezed, and hacked her way down the hall and into her room to flop onto her bed like a left-behind Raggedy Ann doll, I knew we were in for the night.

Good thing I had this soup prepped and ready for cookin’.

Creamy chicken and rice soup. Pure comfort and totally right for all that feels wrong.continue to the recipe… about Instant Pot Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

October 9, 2017

Fresh green bell peppers become their own all-in-one serving vessel when stuffed with chicken, rice, mushrooms, and a creamy mushroom-infused sauce to create a weeknight dinner that puts the all the essential nutrients in one easy-to-make and totally delicious dinner.

You know how you have staples in your culinary repertoire? Those dishes that no matter how gourmet you try to fool your family and friends into thinking you are—and more often trying to convince yourself? The recipes that are the staple for Sunday night comfort food cravings and oh so easy to make on a weeknight, too?

This here recipe is one of them. Crave-a-licious.

I first shared this stuffed bell pepper recipe nearly 5-years-to-the-day-ago and after referring back to it so many times over the years, I felt it needed an update. Five years ago it was one of our go-to, favorite dinners then, and it absolutely still is today.

My mom used to make stuffed peppers with hamburger and tomato sauce, but as I kid I was so. not. into. peppers. Ew. But true to form, I began to like them the more I had them. I keep telling myself my little girl AliSmudge would be making the turn too. And she has. Oh yes, she’s a fan too.

My man and and I came up with this stuffed bell peppers recipe that will forever be in our top 5 favorite meals to make at home: Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers for the all-in-one-dinner-for-the-stuffed-bell-pepper-win.

continue to the recipe… about Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Stuffed Bell Peppers

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetable Rice Bowls

September 25, 2017

When weeknight dinner making seems like almost too much to add to your already full plate, prep the ingredients for these slow cooker teriyaki chicken and vegetable rice bowls over the weekend and then toss together for a quick and easy answer to your weeknight dinner question.

These days everyone’s talking about meal prep. There’s a reason for that. Because it works.

All it takes are a couple of base recipes and a little extra time over the weekend to partially cook ahead and then whip out a healthy weeknight dinner. Even if you get just one meal prepped ahead and ready to roll, you’ll find yourself feeling surprisingly proud and a little enamored with your forethought and meal-planning ways.

continue to the recipe… about Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetable Rice Bowls

Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers With Beef Recipe

September 10, 2017

This healthy and easy dinner idea combines ground beef, rice, and sweet and colorful red, yellow and orange bell peppers for an easy dinner any night of the week.

Until my 20’s, bell peppers and I were far, far, far from fast friends.

I viewed the crunchy, green orbital vegetables with a look of disdain whenever they appeared on pizzas or veggie platter plates and as a kid, wrinkled my nose and plotted how to ditch every single bite in a napkin when my mom served them up for dinner.

But just like taking leisurely car rides on a Sunday afternoon, reading novels with long words you finally understand but now need readers to see, and taking hot baths (give me a tub every night of the week!), eating the food you hated as a kid suddenly becomes not. that. bad. as an adult. And sometimes, even really, really good.

And whenever I can serve a meal in it’s own vessel, it’s bonus time. Enter, stuffed bell peppers.

continue to the recipe… about Baked Stuffed Bell Peppers With Beef Recipe

Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken With I Heart Naptime

September 21, 2016

This super easy teriyaki chicken takes only 10 minutes to prepare and then the crockpot does the rest of the work for a true family favorite.

Chances are if you’re a mom, you’re familiar with the blog I Heart Naptime. It’s a treasure trove of family-friendly meals and crafts, activities and DIY’s for kiddos, that are a godsend if you’re a parent. Six years ago, founder Jamielyn Nye started the successful blog when her own experience with motherhood inspired her to create a space for women that would spark their creativity.

With a keen eye for design and creating, Jamielyn has built an impressive following (her blog receives millions of visits each month), and now she’s got a brand new cookbook to boot. The I Heart Naptime Cookbook features 100 easy, no-fuss recipes you can make in under an hour.

continue to the recipe… about Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken With I Heart Naptime

Spanish Chicken and Rice Recipe

March 23, 2016

Chicken thighs are nestled in Spanish-flavored rice with Spanish chorizo, green olives, and garbanzo beans for the ultimate one-pot meal.

I pretty much live at my local Smith’s Marketplace.

It’s where I shop for groceries for the blog, and for my family’s dinner. It’s where I buy all of the little green seedlings for my garden. It’s where I shop for hooks and screws, birdseed, my daughter’s never ending supply of footie golf socks, and fingernail polish.

I even fill up my car there. I mean, there’s no way I’m turning away that extra gas discount I get points for whenever I go through the checkout. Not to mention it’s only 1 mile away from my house. Cha-ching.

That’s why this year I’m beyond thrilled to be a Kroger blogging ambassador, where I will be creating and sharing recipes featuring all sorts of products from Kroger grocery stores for my family, and for yours.

We’re starting our year-long partnership off with a mega dose of Spanish-cha-cha flavor, and routing ourselves to the cuisine of Spain to celebrate Kroger’s Taste of Spain event beginning April 3. I’m sharing my version of Spanish Chicken with Rice, traditionally called Arroz con Pollo, dosed up with the tang of authentic Spanish chorizo, saffron and green olives.

Spanish dancer emoji approved! 💃💃💃💃💃

continue to the recipe… about Spanish Chicken and Rice Recipe

Pork Souvlaki With Lemon Rice

March 14, 2016

An easy marinade with classic Greek flavors of fruity olive oil, lemon and oregano give a tangy, fresh and distinctly Greek taste to grilled pork skewers.

Today’s post is sponsored by Universal Pictures and the release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 coming to theaters on March 25, 2016.

“Let me tell you something, Toula. The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants.”

Just like every other female, that quote hooked me and still makes me laugh every time. And appreciate it’s truth. OPA!

Since it’s release 14 years ago (what? how did that happen??) quotes like that one made me love the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The overbearing parents, the constantly intervening family and the shy duck who becomes the beautiful swan and gets the guy…Swoon. This is the modern day fairy tale.

And finally. Finally. FINALLY! My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 is being released in theaters on March 25.

So when I was asked to create a Greek family recipe to celebrate the release of the sequel, FINALLY!, it was easy to say yes. I pulled out one of my favorite recipes that somehow hasn’t yet been showcased here on the bloggity blog: My marinated Pork Souvlaki with Tangy Lemon Rice. It’s totally movie star worthy.continue to the recipe… about Pork Souvlaki With Lemon Rice

Southwestern Stuffed Bell Peppers

November 2, 2015

Classic Southwestern flavors, corn, rice, and lean ground beef make this rainbow of bell peppers a favorite, healthy dinner your whole family will enjoy.

This post and it’s rainbow of healthy flavors is sponsored by AMCO Select One Produce.

Last week I saw a lot of change and said goodbye to few favorites.

October is done. Bye bye! Daylight savings? You’ve ticked your last tock. And probably the worst of the worst signs that summer has officially had the nail driven into its sunshine-filled coffin: My husband cleared out all of the plants from the garden to make way for old man winter.

Goodbye garden tomatoes. So long to my spindly pepper plants. You were a food bounty all summer long and you’ll be missed.

Or will you?

These days, none of us have to feel fresh-from-the-garden-challenged now that we’re moving into the colder months because garden fresh veggies are readily available in grocery aisles 365 days a year. Well, there may be a day off for Christmas and an early closing hour for Thanksgiving, but I think you get my gist.

continue to the recipe… about Southwestern Stuffed Bell Peppers

Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

February 17, 2015

Classic Jambalaya is actually one of the easiest one-pot meals you can pull together, even for weeknight eats, and this recipe is authentic, hearty, and oh so satisfying.

It’s Mardi Gras, and finally, Fat Tuesday. Let’s parade the streets, toss some beads and celebrate with a big old bowl of Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya.

Then once we’ve had our fill, lets move onto the links at the bottom of this post to some crazy-fun, and unique, King Cake recipes because I want to get that lucky baby inside so I can be the queen of the party. As if.

continue to the recipe… about Chicken, Sausage and Shrimp Jambalaya

7 Spice Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls

January 12, 2015

Homemade Japanese 7 Spice (Shichimi Togarashi) infuses homemade teriyaki sauce to boost the flavors of this healthy chicken teriyaki and fresh vegetable rice bowl, featuring chicken thighs, edamame, and sushi rice.

There’s a trend afoot. A food trend you’re seeing right, left and center, and it starts with a capital F.

I first talked about it last week when I shared this recipe. No, we’re not talking french fries, fondue or finger food. While I dig all of those and am especially partial to another F-word, I mean my my mom’s Fudge, they’re not on the scale for making major inroads into every cook’s kitchen.

So what F word is trending? It’s simple, really. The big F starts with flavor. Cooking these days is all about flavor. Trés trendy? Or just good, old fashioned recipe making? I’m betting it’s both.continue to the recipe… about 7 Spice Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls

Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup

October 3, 2013

Here’s the thing about cooking with slow cookers. It’s convenient. But only if you’re creating a recipe where you don’t have to dirty more than the slow cooker. Like this Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup.

I’m all about time management. I eat breakfast while I do the dishes, I brush my teeth while I tie on my running shoes. In other words, I’m a multi-tasker who isn’t terribly efficient at getting much of any of my laundry list of daily to-dos completed because my mind thinks I have to do more than six things at at time. Why? Oh why?

So these days, unless its a lazy day weekend, my to do list doesn’t always necessitate spending an hour and a half making dinner. I don’t mean letting it cook, I mean MAKING dinner.

Enter the genius invention that has been on every wedding registry since 1973. The slow cooker. And this Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup. continue to the recipe… about Slow Cooker Thai Chicken Soup