Easy Chicken Nachos

When my kids were little this was one of their favorite after school snacks. I hope you enjoy making these for your family.

My recipe for Easy Chicken Nachos is as follows:

Easy Chicken Nachos

On a microwave safe plate add a layer of your favorite tortilla chips, cover with a layer of your favorite salsa (I prefer to use pineapple or peach of some sort), sprinkle some shredded chicken on top, followed by your favorite shredded cheese.

*For a little something spicy, add a can of chopped jalepenos.

Place in your microwave and heat until cheese is melted.

Enjoy adding whatever ingredients you prefer. 

The Lunch Lady :)

Grandma's Pork with a Twist

Need something comforting, delicious and easy? Try this recipe of my Grandma's Pork. It is cooked in a crock pot and you can forget about it.

My recipe for Grandma's Pork with a Twist is as follows:

Grandma's Pork with a Twist

In a crock pot add 1 bag of sauerkraut, add 1 c. brown sugar, 2 apples chopped with the peel still on, 2 T. black pepper and 2 T. salt (I prefer kosher), mix together with your hands. Place a boneless pork loin on the top, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, turn to low for another 4 hours. The pork with be tender, and sauerkraut delicious. *If you don't have time to adjust the heat, cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Make your version of mashed potatoes. In a large stock pot boil 8 russet potatoes (cut into quarters) until tender, using my hand mixer I mix until mashed, add 1/2 stick butter, salt and pepper to taste, 2/3 c. light sour cream, enough milk to thin to desired consistency.

On a pretty platter plate your mashed potatoes top with the sauerkraut mixture and place slices of the cooked pork roast. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and enjoy.

If you have any leftover mashed potatoes, make some potato pancakes the next day. Make small hamburger  shaped looking patties out of the potato mixture, dip in a mixture of 2 eggs and 1/4 c. milk, then dip in a mixture of 2 c. italian breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. parmesan cheese,  melt 1 T. butter in a saucepan over medium high heat, add potato patties and cook until golden  brown on one side, gently turn and continue to cook until golden brown on second side. Serve with some cinnamon applesauce.

Hope you try this recipe and enjoy it.

The Lunch Lady :)

Not Your Mom's Tomato Soup

Abundant tomato crop......I have an easy, scrumptious, hearty soup for you to make. This soup is not only very tasty but elegant.

The recipe for this soup is as follows:

Not Your Mom's Tomato Soup

In a large stock pot add 6 medium large tomatoes (cut into 4 pieces) and 20 cherry tomatoes, add 1 c water, 2/3 c. sugar, 2 T. chicken bouillon, 2 T. minced garlic (I prefer the kind in the jar), 2 t. salt and 2 T. pepper, cover and cook over medium heat for 30 minutes. Add 2 cut up chicken thighs, 1 can cannellini beans (white kidney beans), continue to cook until chicken is done, about another 45 minutes. Strain soup, add bean mixture to food processor and pulse until creamy, add 6 basil leaves and continue to pulse. Add back to broth and stir well.

 *If you desire a thinner soup, add some heavy cream, milk or water.

In a pretty soup bowl add 1 c. of cooked basmati rice in the center, ladle soup around the rice and top with a small basil leaf.

I hope you enjoy this soup. My husband called it a comforting bowl of deliciousness. 

The Lunch Lady :)

Perfect Work Week Pasta

YAY...it is finally Friday, which leads to the next question. What to make for dinner on a comfy Friday night at home with you honey? As most of my recipes, whether at work or home, I look in the fridge or freezer and find some meat for a starting point, then the pantry and allow my imagination to run wild. With that being said this is the recipe I came up with for dinner tonight.

My recipe for Perfect Work Week Pasta is as follows:

Perfect Work Week Pasta

Mushrooms
Pork Strips
Canned Peas
Fresh Cherry Tomatoes
Heavy Cream
Beef Broth
Penne Pasta
9 Basil Leaves, chopped
Salt and Pepper to Taste

Cook 1/2 box of pasta until al dente. In a saucepan on high, saute 1 container mushrooms until golden brown,  in another saucepan saute pork strips in olive oil until browned, cut in small pieces, add to mushrooms with cherry tomatoes, reduce heat to medium, add basil, beef broth, peas and heavy cream. Heat through and add pasta, season if necessary. Serve with a delicious salad and bread. Save leftovers for a quick lunch on Saturday.

Enjoy your pasta and special someone. 

The Lunch Lady :)

Garden Fresh Kabobs

Do you need some ideas for an abundant tomato supply? If so, I think this is an easy, refreshing fun recipe. A great recipe to make with your children or friends.

My recipe for Garden Fresh Kabobs is as follows:

Garden Fresh Kabobs

Toothpicks
Platter
Fresh Vine Ripe Cherry or Grape Tomatoes
Fresh Ciliegine Mozzarella (cherry size mozzarella balls)
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
Fresh Small Basil Leaves

On a toothpick place 1 tomato, 1 basil leaf, 1 mozzarella ball, makes about 24 servings.

Place kabobs on a platter, sprinkle with salt and pepper and drizzle with Olive Oil. YUMMY!

Try this recipe at your next party or family gathering. 

The Lunch Lady :)

Fan Potatoes

Today is a perfect day to be in my kitchen, breeze blowing, and low temps. Perfect conditions for creating yummy recipes. I have been busy and will share my creations over the next few days. For starters I made some Fan Potatoes, super easy, pretty and wonderful combination of flavors. Try them for your next party. Great finger food for appetizers or a side dish for dinner.

My recipe for Fan Potatoes is as follows:

Fan Potatoes

4 Potatoes
Italian Breadcrumbs
Shredded Parmesan Cheese
Italian Seasonings or Chopped Basil Leaves (not fresh)
Garlic Salt
Black Pepper
Olive Oil or Canola Cooking Spray
Bacon

Cut 4 pieces of bacon into small pieces and cook until crisp. Save bacon grease for later use. In a bowl mix together 1/4 c. Italian Breadcrumbs, 1/4 c. Shredded Parmesan Cheese, 1 t. Italian Seasonings or Basil, 1 t. Garlic Salt, 1/4 t. Black Pepper, mix well, set aside.

Place 4 potatoes in microwave and cook for 6-8 minutes, until soft.

To cut potatoes into fan shape, place a chopstick on either side of potato lengthwise and slice through potato crosswise 3/4 of the way through. See picture if confused.

Place fan cut potatoes onto a baking sheet. Spray each potato section with cooking spray, fill each potato section with breadcrumb mixture. Drizzle 1 T. of bacon grease across each potato, place one piece of bacon in each section.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until somewhat crunchy.

Top with sour cream to serve. If you want to use for appetizer. Cut potato apart and top each slice with sour cream and extra bacon, serve on platter and sprinkle with fresh parsley.

I just ate my potato for a snack and it was delicious.

The Lunch Lady :)

Pesto Wraps

Try this easy wrap recipe for a light lunch or dinner. I used the homemade pesto recipe from yesterday's blog posting. You can add any extra items you would like. These were easy to make and a huge hit.

Tortilla Wraps
Lunchmeat (turkey, ham and salami)
Fresh Baby Spinach Leaves
Shredded Cheese
Shredded Carrots
Tomatoes(sliced)
Sprouts

Pesto Mayonnaise (equal parts homemade pesto and mayonnaise)

Place a flour tortilla on a plate, spread some pasto mayo on tortilla, top with spinach leaves, lunchmeat, carrots, tomatoes and sprouts, roll up and cut in half. Serve with your favorite fresh fruit and chips.

These were very refreshing and delicious.

The Lunch Lady :)

Pammie's Pesto Pasta

What to do with all that fresh basil in your garden? Well, I made some homemade pesto and put a couple batches in the freezer for later use. You can add it to pasta, wraps, salad dressing, soup and any entree for a little something special. Be creative.

My recipe for Pammie's Pesto Pasta is as follows:

Pammie's Pesto Pasta

I use my food processor when preparing pesto.....so here goes. Add 2 cups fresh basil leaves, 1/2. c. olive oil, 1/2 c. pinenuts, salt and pepper to taste, 1 T. minced garlic, and 2/3 c. parmesan cheese. Pulse until smooth, add more oil to make thinner. If freezing leave the cheese out and add when thawed.

Now to prepare the pasta part of Pammie's Pesto Pasta. In a large skillet slowly cook 1 pkg. smoked, diced sausage, when browned add 3 cups cooked pasta, add 1 c. fresh, cooked corn, and 1 c. prepared pesto. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.

Enjoy making this dish full of fresh summer flavors. 

The Lunch Lady :)

Grilled Pork Chops

I wanted to share this recipe with you today, it is a wonderful addition to any salad. The marinade is easy to make and delicious on any meat.

The recipe of my Grilled Pork Chops is as follows:

Grilled Pork Chops

In a glass bowl add 2 T. honey, 2 T. Worcestershire, 2 T. original stone ground mustard, 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (chopped),  salt and pepper to taste, 2 T. sweet and sour sauce or orange marmalade, and 2 T. chopped garlic. Mix well and brush marinade on to boneless pork chops while grilling. Serve pork chops with homemade mashed potatoes or basmati rice.

Any leftover pork chops would be delicious sliced and served over your favorite salad greens, with sliced apples, blue cheese crumbles, candied pecans and a balsamic dressing.

I hope you will try this recipe and enjoy it as much as we did today.

The Lunch Lady :)

Pammie's Chipped Beef

This recipe is one of my favorite go to comfort meals. I used to make this for my son when he lived at home. Can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or parties. I served it over some of my crumbled homemade bread today for my lunch, YUM.

Recipe for Pammie's Chipped Beef is as follows:

Pammie's Chipped Beef

In a skillet over medium heat, add 3 T. butter and allow to melt, add 1/4 c. flour and stir, add 2 c. milk and heat. Add 1 pkg. of Budding Original Beef, chopped (can be found in lunch meat section at the grocery store). add 1/2 t. black pepper and pour over crumbled bread or toast. Enjoy!

The Lunch Lady :)

Homemade Bread

I will confess I am not a baker, so if I can make this bread, it must be easy. Try it with some homemade blueberry or tomato jam.

My recipe for Homemade Bread is as follows:

Homemade Bread

In a mixing bowl combine, 1/2 c. warm water with 1 pkg of yeast (combine together and allow to sit a few minutes remaining ingredients), add 1/2 c. warm milk, 2 eggs, 1 t. salt, 2/3 c. softened butter, 1 t. honey and 3 c. flour. Mix until well blended. Place dough in greased glass mixing bowl and cover with saran wrap, allow to rise for 30 minutes. Place dough on floured surface and knead about 20 times until smooth. Place back into clean greased glass bowl, cover and allow to rise for 40 minutes or until doubled in size. Bake in a 375 degree oven for about 45-50 minutes until golden brown. While cooling brush bread with butter. Serve with your favorite toppings, herb butter, homemade jam, herbed olive oil or nutella.

I wish you could smell how delicious this bread smells. If you prefer you can bake it in a loaf pan.

Options: 

Add 1/2 c. fresh herbs to dough mix before baking

Add 1/2 c. peanut butter

Add 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese and 1/4 c. fresh herbs

Add 1/2 c. raisins (soak in water or rum to hydrate) and 2 t. cinnamon

Enjoy and have fun trying this recipe.

The Lunch Lady :)