3.26.2011

Chicken Croquettes



Chicken Croquettes:
4 C shredded chicken
1 C shredded cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/4 chopped onion
1-2 t breadcrumbs
Seasoning to taste
EVOO

Mix all ingrediants and season to taste. Form into patties, and fry with EVOO or Pam. Serve with fat free sour cream on top. 

Rating: 3.5/5


As you may notice there is no picture for this recipe. This is because it turned out to be a disaster on the eyes - at least in my case. However, it was way more tasty than it looked. J really liked it. I thought it was good too. It reminded me of a hashbrown mix from Waffle House. Random I know.

3.25.2011

Creamy Pasta Bake

Creamy Pasta Bake:

1 pound lean ground beef - cooked
28 oz. spaghetti sauce
1 can diced tomatoes - drained
1 cup sour cream - light
16 oz. pasta - your choice
1/2 cup parmesan cheese - grated


Cook pasta and drain. Brown the beef. After beef has been drained, mix beef, spaghetti sauce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, parmesan cheese in same pan. Gently mix in pasta. I topped with more parmesan chese. Pour into 9x13 casserole dish. Bake in preheated 375 oven for 25 minutes. Serves 8.  

Rating: 4/5

Although this serves 8, it makes so much and is great for leftovers! This is from one of my favorite places to check out recipes -  I added more seasoning for flavor and served with garlic bread. Glad I'm not allergic to carbs. 
3.21.2011

Britney.

I haven't posted on here in a hot minute, but I promise I will soon. I know your just dying for an update.

S/N: BRITNEY'S ALBUM IS OUT SOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3.14.2011

"I Was Born This Way"

Thanks for the title today Ga Ga. You know what I was born with? Allergies. Actually I have no idea if you are born with allergies or if they just evolve during life. 

Doesn't this look like fun?
Can I get a woo hoo for allergy testing? 
 Since this place decided to re test me  the allergist was not too impressed with the doings of my doctor in Abilene I was able to get pricked 40 times. Lucky me. It actually was better than the test in Abilene, which involved 90+ pricks.

Good news of the day? I am not allergic to cockroaches. Yes, they actually test for that.

"Californiaaaaaaaaaaa. Here We Come."

I am extremely pumped about that the Real Housewives of the OC has returned another season of drama. I love this show, but I am having issues with Tamra. On the show she looks so strange to me - it's like she had work done after her divorce, but she looks like a squinty pug. I also don't understand why she thinks Gretchen should just move on and forget their rough past. Tamra was the "mean girl", but has partly lost her cattiness as she is going through a divorce - pretty sure Gretchen does not care nor will she care since Tamra was horrid to her.

Tonight is the bachelor FINALE. Woo hoo! Like most of America, I have fallen in love with Emily from this season of the bachelor. While in line at Kroger the other day, I read this horrible article on how she was gold digger seeking celeb status. I was shocked because she does such a good job of playing (close to) a saint on this show. But there is usually some truth to the stories US Weekly and In Touch run........Sketch. But according to this site, In Touch's story doesn't pan out. WHEW! I would hate if my reality TV wasn't real! \

Enough about reality TV. I feel like a crackhead being awake so early today. Our fridge (specifically our freezer) has frozen over for the third time so I am awaiting maintenance to fix it. My fridge is currently at a lovely temperature of 58 degrees. Have I mentioned I miss my house? :)

Fettuccine Alfredo & Basic Bruschetta

Fettuccine Alfredo:
8 oz package fettuccine
2 T butter
1/4 C grated parmesean cheese
Garlic
1/2 C half & half
S & P

Cook fettuccine and drain. In sauce pot, saute garlic in butter and add fettuccine to med - low heat. Slowly stir and add Parmesan cheese and half & half. Blend until the sauce has thickened and season with pepper.

Rating: 4/5


I love fettuccine because I am obsessed with cheesy flavors. However, this is a recipe that is not completely good for you and can be high in fat, etc. Therefore, in the Bentley kitchen this was made with all low/fat free ingredients. It was super easy and delicious. Next time I am going to throw in some protein and veggies.



Basic Brushetta:
1 baguette
1/2 C EVOO
Garlic

Cut bread into slices and place under a broiler (or a grill) until lightly brown. Turn off oven (or take away from heat) and repeat. Once bread is off of heat, rub one side of each piece with garlic. Next, brush a little bit of olive oil over bread and enjoy or add a topping of choice.


Rating: 4/5

Amongst a love for cheese, I have a crush on bread. I really heart carbs. Agh. This was another quick and easy recipe. It was yummy and would be even better garnished with a topping.
3.08.2011

You Know It's Bad When.....

I see this and immediately think of Charlie Sheen: 
Even though I know Chipotle did this before Charlie Sheen had his goddesses.

Eye of the Round Roast & Bacon Spinach Salad

Eye of the Round Roast:
3 lb roast - I used a 2 lbs
3/4 C water
pepper
1 package of Italian dressing mix
1/4 soy sauce
garlic powder
EVOO

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Season the roast with garlic and pepper. Brown in a skillet using a bit of EVOO. Mix soy sauce, water, the Italian dressing mix and pour over the roast. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Check and make sure there is still enough liquid in the skillet. Reduce the heat to 200 degrees and cook for 30 minutes to an hour. When done, slice and enjoy! It is also good cold for sandwiches.

Rating: 5/5

Hands down this has become my favorite roast recipe. Granted I have only used one recipe before. This was so amazingly good! I used a meat thermometer while the roast was in the oven to ensure that we would be food poisoning free. After I took it out from the oven I sliced the roast and made sure it was cooked (I also trimmed off any fat I could find - gross). There was enough liquid in the pan to pour over before serving or to dip the meat in. I used the leftovers for sandwiches and added provolone cheese. Yummy! Just make sure that if you use your skillet and put it in the oven, that it can handle the oven heat.



Bacon Spinach Salad
5 C torn spinach
1/2 C red onion wedges
2 hard boiled eggs - chopped
4 slices bacon - crumbled
1 C Catalina dressing
1 C mushrooms - sliced  (J is not a mushroom fan so the shrooms were cut)

Toss all ingredients, but the dressing in a large bowl. Serve with dressing. Feel free to add chicken for some protein.

Rating: 4/5

Great salad. I will be using a different dressing next time since I am not a fan of Catalina.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

I am always looking for new recipes for chicken. Chicken is one of my favorite things to cook (because there are so many yummy recipes) and J  hates it. Anytime he asks what's for dinner he will go ahead and say, "Let me guess - chicken?" Men. I like chicken because I do not believe in eating red meat every night. Geez. I tried a salad to go along with it, but I strongly disliked the salad. I didn't even serve it with our dinner - I just threw something together.

Baked Chicken Parmesan:
1 t salt
1/4 t garlic powder
1/8 t thyme
1 T parsley- m inced
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 T EVOO
Marsala cooking wine
1/4 t pepper
1/4 t paprika
1/4 C parmesan cheese
1/3 C bread crumbs
1/3 C water
1/4 C I Can't Believe It's Not Butter - melted

Combine s & p, garlic powder, paprika, thyme, cheese, parsley, and bread crumbs in a ziplock bag. Coat chicken in bag. Oil a shallow baking dish, pour in water and place chicken in dish. Sprinkle with oil and the melted margarine. Back uncovered for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Lower the oven temperature to 325, pour wine over chicken, cover and bake for 15 more minutes. Remove cover and drain the liquid. Raise the temperature back up to 350 and bake for 10 minutes longer.

Rating: 4/5 

Although the cooking directions drove me nuts - who wants to keep getting up and down to make dinner - it was very yummy and passed the chicken expert's (my husband) expectations. I would love to make this again and toss it in with some pasta. I heart carbs.