The Absolute Best Orange Chicken

We are huge fans of Chinese food over here and Orange Chicken is the favorite. I had to try making it healthier than at your typical drive thru or deli counter. It actually surprised me how easy it is to make. With it going into the crock pot to cook, it freed up my evening. All I needed to make was some rice and voila...dinner that pleased everyone. This recipe was enough for 4 adults and 3 kids with a little to spare. :-)

Orange Chicken

4 chicken breast, cut into small squares

1 cup flour

olive oil

3/4 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup ketchup

6 oz frozen orange juice concentrate

3/4 cup orange juice

2 tsp balsamic vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar (I did 1/2 honey, half brown sugar)

Mix orange juice, concentrate, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, and ketchup. Set aside.

Put flour on large plate. Generously coat raw chicken pieces with flour. Pour some olive oil in a large skillet and brown chicken on a little over medium heat. Chicken doesn't have to be fully cooked, just browned a little bit. Add more oil if necessary. Put browned chicken in crock pot. Pour sauce mix over top. Cook on high for 3 hours or until completely cooked through. Serve over rice. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired. 

Basic Burritos

These are pretty basic, nothing exotic or special, burritos. Tasty, hearty, filling, easy. Nothing gourmet here! But, they are Craig's favorite to have in the freezer for quick lunches. I like to have them, too, for a fast dinner that requires no thought save to preheat the oven. This recipe is for 40 burritos. Nice for stocking the freezer and better for you than commercial frozen burritos! 

Burritos

2 lbs lean ground beef (I always stick with organic when it comes to my meat)

1/2 cup taco seasoning

1 1/2 cup water

6 cups PREPARED rice

1 cup OR one can of: (make sure to rinse beans {except the refried ones} if using canned)

Black beans

White beans

Corn

Refried beans

4 cups (or one quart jar) salsa

2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp cumin

5 cups shredded cheese

40 burrito size tortillas 

Foil (pre-cut from Costco is best!)

Begin by browning beef. Once cooked, add water and taco seasoning and let simmer for a bit. Meanwhile cook rice according to package directions. In a LARGE bowl, combine beef, rice, beans, corn, salsa, and seasonings. Mix well. Get a 2/3 cup measuring cup. Fill tortillas with scant 2/3 cup filling. Sprinkle with cheese. Roll. Wrap in foil. Freeze. 

Bake on 400 for about 20 minutes. 

(photo from Chicken Burritos showing how to fold)

Best way to foil wrap...

Roasted Broccoli

This is, by far, the best broccoli I have ever made. Crispy on the outside, and tender on the inside. Healthy, too! My kids don't like broccoli at all, but this stuff? They were so sad the pan was empty! Next time, definitely making way more!!

Roasted Broccoli

Broccoli

Garlic (3 cloves per head of broccoli)

Olive oil

Salt and pepper (best fresh ground)

Line pan with foil. Don't wash broccoli. In the words of the famous Jacques Pepin "If bacteria could survive that oven, it deserves to kill me." ;-) The broccoli won't crisp properly if it's wet, so if you must wash, do it much earlier in the day and lay it out to dry thoroughly.

Anyway. Put broccoli on foil lined pan. Drizzle quite well with olive oil. Distribute minced garlic all over. Sprinkle with freshly cracked pepper and ground salt. Bake on 400 for about 15 minutes, keeping an eye on it so it doesn't burn. You want golden, not fried. 

(before cooking...it disappeared too fast to get an after shot)

Chicken Chili

I'm a fan of crock pot meals because I am more motivated in the morning than the evening! I've actually made this recipe twice this past month because my kiddos liked it well enough. The leftovers make a quick lunch! 

Chicken Chili

1 can rotel

1 can corn, not drained

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed 

1 can white beans, not drained

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 tsp oregano and basil

1 tsp cumin

1/2 onion chopped fine

dash of salt

2 chicken breasts, raw

1 package cream cheese

Put everything in the crock pot on low until the chicken is cooked through, about 6 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Stir back into the crock pot with cream cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and serve immediately. If the cream cheese sits in the crock pot too long it'll start burning on the edges. We ate this with *gasp* MORE cheese on top and some sour cream. We like cheese 'round these parts =)

Mexican Casserole

We are big fans of Mexican inspired foods over here and I am a fan of casserole dishes. Easy to make while the kids nap, and refrigerate until time to make dinner. This re-heats in the oven quite well, too. 

Mexican Casserole

1lb ground beef

1 package taco seasoning

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

Salsa

Shredded cheese

100% whole grain tortillas

Begin by browning ground beef in a pan until cooked through. Add seasoning and about 1/2 cup of salsa. Begin by layering in a 9x13 pan, 

1/2 of beef 

1/2 of corn

1/2 of beans 

a layer of tortilla

the other half of beef

some cheese

another layer of tortilla

the other 1/2 of corn and beans 

some salsa

a little more cheese

Bake on 350 until the cheese bubbles. I don't know exactly how long it was...maybe 20 or so minutes? I mostly just estimate when it's done! I served this with some chips and sour cream.

Pizza Crescents

This is a perfect go-to snack food for when company is over and you need something fast! Reminds me of party food. Something kids and adults alike will eat and enjoy! We dipped ours in pizza sauce. 

Pizza Crescents

1 roll crescents

4 cheese sticks, cut in half

24 pieces pepperoni

pizza sauce 

Unroll crescents. Place 3 pepperoni pieces at wide end. Put half a cheese stick on top of pepperoni and roll, folding corners over top when done. Bake on 375 for about 10 minutes. 

Baked Cheese Sticks

Ok. I've been wanting to try baked cheese sticks for awhile now but never just actually made them. Today, that all changed. 

When I say these things are revolutionary, I mean it. I dare you to just eat 2..(the equivalent of one cheese stick).

Virtually impossible...kinda..

These are gooey. They have the crisp crust. Full of flavor. Absolutely best dipped in ranch. these may or may not have been kinda the main course tonight...

=D

Baked Cheese Sticks

7 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut in half

1 egg, beat well

2 tablespoons flour

1/3 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Roll cheese stick halved in flour, dip in beaten egg, and coat with bread crumbs mixed with salt and pepper. Place on lightly spritzed with oil, foil lined, cookie sheet. Put in freezer for a couple hours. Bake on 400 for 5 mins. Turn, and bake for another 5. Let set one minute before serving.

I'd type more but I kinda want another one...tata! 

  

Peppers&Eggs

Quite obviously this isn't an exact recipe, just a fabulous breakfast that I've had only like 3 days in a row now with enough peppers to make it a morning tradition.  I'm eating them right now as I type. A couple of these and a coffee and I'm set clear into the afternoon. Protein and veg! I did flip the eggs as I'm not into having raw yolk. Just cut your peppers thin, put on griddle, break an egg in the center. sprinkle some slat and pepper on, and cook like a normal egg! Delish and easy...

GrapeNut Breakfast "bars"

I honestly wasn't expecting much from this recipe as far as flavor goes. It looked pretty bland but after adding a few seasonings, it turns out it wasn't that bad a recipe after all! I really didn't care if they weren't that great, I just wanted a quick breakfast I could grab on the run. They are a mix between a bar and a cake/bread texture. A bar with some peanut butter with a cup of coffee is actually pretty good. I was pleased! Even the kiddos liked them...

GrapeNut Breakfast Bars

6 cups Grape Nuts cereal

2 cups whole milk

2 cups applesauce

2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1 cup cranberries

1 cup finely chopped dates

1 tablespoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients together well. Line a 9x13 in wax paper. Dump mix into pan evenly. Bake on 350 for 35 minutes. Cool completely. Invert on cutting board and peel off wax paper. Cut into squares and store in refrigerator. 

Romaine Chicken (or tuna) wraps

A friend inspired me to make these and wow.. amazing! There's no way these ingredients won't be staple in my refrigerator! After assembling the mix, I have lunch or a snack in about 2 minutes. Perfect! By substituting yogurt for mayo you save calories without sacrificing taste a bit! I actually love the tang of the yog. 

Chicken (or tuna) Wraps

3 chicken breasts, shredded or 2 cans tuna, drained and shredded

1/3 cup plain yogurt

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp dry mustard

2-3 minced garlic cloves

1 cucumber, peeled and cubed small

1/3 cup finely shredded cheese

1/4 cup dried cranberries

Romaine leaves, rinsed and dried

Mix all ingredients together. Add more yogurt if mixture is too dry. Serve in romaine "boats". 

Stacked Apples

Apple, peanut butter, granola, and just a hint of chocolate. So delicious together!! These stacked apples are super easy to make and the kids love them. Who am I kidding...I love them, too! 

Stacked Apple

1 apple

1 tablespoon peanut butter

1 tablespoon melted chocolate chips

granola

Thinly slice apple and cut out core. Later with filling ingredients. 

That's it!  

Cleaning Tip

For quite a while I've use vinegar to clean. Its pretty much unbeatable for water spots, grime, and buildup without counting harsh commercial chemical cleaners. I always have a spray bottle of it in my kitchen for easy access. When I read you can make vinegar smell like citrus, I was quite excited. It worked, too! I steeped mine for two weeks and I just cleaned my house entirely with vinegar...you can't even tell! Give it a try. I bet you'll like it! 

Citrus Vinegar

Canning Jars

Vinegar

Grapefruit, Orange, and Lemon peels

Fill jars almost to the top with peels. Add vinegar. Cap and let sit for 2 weeks. To use: dilute by half with water. 

My favorite part about this, though, is taking a roll of good quality paper towel, cutting it in half with my bread knife, manipulating the cardboard roll out of it, and putting one of the halves in a baby wipes container. Dampen the paper towel with this vinegar/water solution and you have quick cleaning wipes for a fraction of the store cost! It really works. I promise! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

This morning I wanted to try something new to accompany my crustless quiche for breakfast. I had never made baked oatmeal before so I decided to give it a whirl. With the apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg it was really tasty. I topped it with maple sugar and frozen vanilla yogurt. Yum!! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup softened butter or coconut oil

1/2 cup brown sugar or succanat

2 beaten eggs

3 cups oats

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3 apples, sliced paper thin

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs. Mix in oats, baking powder, and milk. Lightly grease an 8x8 pan. Put sliced apples on the bottom. Top with oat mixture. Bake on 350 for 30 mins. Top with maple syrup and frozen yogurt for best experience =) 

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizzas

One of my favorite freezer meals is pita pizza. I like mine topped with fresh mozzarella, olive oil, garlic, basil, and roma tomato. The kids and Craig like bbq chicken. I make all the topping in the crock pot so it's very easy to assemble in mass production. I freeze them in foil and then ziploc bags and bake from their frozen state on 375 until the cheese bubbles. Not very scientific, but it works! 

BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

This recipe for bbq chicken

10 slices bacon

shredded mozzarella cheese

12 100% whole grain pitas

Make chicken. Crisp and crumble bacon. Add to chicken mixture. Top pita with chicken and cheese. Wrap in foil. Freeze. 3 easy dinners for my family! 

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

This is one recipe from my childhood that brings back memories of thinking I was going to barf because I was eating zucchini, but actually fell in like because it was SO awesome. Super moist, just sweet enough, and even has a few servings of veg! Do yourself a favor and make a batch.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread

1 cup butter

1 cup oil

1 1/2 cup evap cane juice or sugar

4 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 cup sour cream

5 cups whole wheat flour

8 tbsp cocoa

2 tsp salt

2 tsp soda

1 tsp cinnamon

4 cups pureed zucchini

3 large 85% cocoa chocolate bars

Cream butter, oil, and sugar. Whisk in eggs, vanilla, and sour cream. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in zucchini and chocolate. Pour into 4 greased loaf pans. Bake on 350 and start checking center for done-ness at 50 minutes. Whole wheat flour takes longer to bake than white flour, so depending on what you use, it'll bake up differently. Loaf is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out with no batter. Melted chocolate is not to be confused with batter =).