Asparagus with Balsamic Vinegar Butter Sauce

Asparagus is a delicious vegetable, and this recipe is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Bake the asparagus in the oven, then pour over the butter, balsamic vinegar and soy sauce. It may seem like a strange combination, but it turns out great.

Ingredients

1 lb. asparagus
cooking spray or olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbs. butter
1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. or more onion powder
1/2 tsp. or more garlic powder

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.

Wash and trim away the woody parts of the asparagus. Arrange the asparagus spears in a baking pan, so they are spread out over the baking pan.

Spray them with cooking spray, or drizzle a bit of olive oil over them, but don't use too much, or it will be too oily tasting.

Season the asparagus with salt and pepper to taste. 

Bake the asparagus for about 12 minutes, or until tender.  

As the asparagus cooks, it is time to prepare the sauce.

In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook and stir until the butter browns, but do not let it burn. Browning the butter gives the sauce more flavor. Remove from heat.

Pour in balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, onion powder and garlic powder.  Whisk well.

When the asparagus is done, remove the spears to a serving platter.  Pour the sauce over the top of the asparagus.  

Serve and enjoy.

Chicken with Jollof Rice

This is an easy one dish meal that our family enjoys. It is easy to put together, so you don't have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. You can use chicken legs, thighs or a mixture of both.

Ingredients

6 chicken legs or thighs
2 Tbs. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1 onion, chopped
2 sweet bell pepper, diced
1 to 2 hot peppers (optional)
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs. ginger, chopped (optional)
1 c. tomato sauce
3 c. chicken broth
3 tsp thyme
2 tsp. curry powder (Optional. You can use more or less, depending on whether you like curry flavor)
3 bay leaves
2 c. rice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a heavy cast iron skillet, pour in the oil and heat over medium high heat.

Season the chicken legs and/or thighs with salt and pepper. Brown the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes, then turn the chicken over and brown the other side for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and place the chicken on a plate. Set aside.

In the same skillet, add the onion, sweet bell peppers, and hot peppers.  Sauté the vegetables until soft. Stir in the garlic, and ginger.  Cook for 1 minute.

Pour in the tomato sauce, and chicken broth. Stir well.  Mix in thyme, curry powder and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Place the chicken back into the skillet. 

Cover the skillet with a lid, or a sheet of foil.  Bake for 6 minutes, or until the chicken tests done at 165° and the rice is tender. 

Notes

Add 1/2 pound of vegetables to the dish for color and flavor.  You can add carrots, green beans or peas for a delicious meal.

Chicken Spice Seasoning

This seasoning blend is not just for chicken. You can use it to spice up beef, pork, or other dishes like chili, or vegetables. It does not take long to prepare and by making your own seasoning, you control what goes in it. If you don't like spicy, then omit the cayenne pepper. The ingredients may seem a bit long, but they are spices that almost everyone has in their cupboard or spice cabinet.

Ingredients

2 tsp. basil
2 tsp. crushed rosemary
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. mustard powder
1 tsp. paprika or smoked paprika
1 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. sage
1/2 tsp.  celery seed
1/2 tsp. parsley
1/4 tsp. or more cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. chicken broth powder (optional)

Directions

In a bowl, or large jar, add basil, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, pepper, thyme, sage, celery seed, parsley, cayenne pepper, cumin and chicken broth powder.  

Mix the ingredients well. Pour the spice into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. 

Notes

If you want your spices like rosemary and celery seed more ground up, use a mortar and pestal, or a spice/coffee grinder. 

This recipe leaves out the salt, except for the dry chicken broth powder. I generally salt my chicken first, using as much or as little salt as we like. 

Banana Muffins

This is a great and easy recipe to make, especially if you have overripe bananas. The muffins are moist and delicious. The secret to great muffins is to not over mix the batter or over bake the muffins.

Ingredients

1 egg, beaten
3 overripe bananas, mashed
3/4 c. granulated sugar or half brown sugar and half granulated sugar
1/3 c. butter, melted or vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon (depends on how much cinnamon taste you like
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 1/2 c. flour

Topping

1/3 c. brown sugar
2 Tbs. flour
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 Tbs. cold butter

Directions 

Heat oven to 350°.  Lightly grease, spray or use paper liners for at least 12 muffin cups. The amount of batter you get depends on how large the bananas are.

In a large bowl, beat eggs.  Mix in bananas, sugar, melted butter and vanilla.  Mix well until thoroughly combined.

Add baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and flour. Stir only until just combined. Do not over mix. 

Pour or spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cups to about 3/4 full.

Prepare the topping.

In a bowl, combine brown sugar, flour and cinnamon.  

Add the butter. Cut the butter in with 2 table knives held in one hand, or you can use a fork or pastry cutter, until the mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle the topping over the top of each muffin. 

Bake for about 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

You can add nuts, or even chocolate chips to your muffins.

Tater Tot Casserole

This is an easy meal to prepare, and it does not take a lot of time.  It is a meal that my family enjoys and often requests, and one that I grew up having for supper. The recipe is a tried and true recipe that tastes so good.  

Instructions

1 lb. ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
2 c. cheddar cheese, grated or pepper jack cheese, divided
1 (15 oz.) can black beans
1 1/2 c. corn or 1 (15 oz.) can of corn, drained
1 (14.5) can diced tomatoes
1 c. sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
1 (32 oz.) bag tater tots

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°

In a large, cast iron skillet, over medium heat, add the ground beef, onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat, until the meat is no longer pink.

Stir in the taco seasoning mix, black beans, corn, diced tomatoes and sour cream.  Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Sprinkle half of the cheese over the top of the ground beef mixture.

Arrange the tater tots on top of the cheese in a single layer. You may not need the entire bag of tater tots, it depends on how large your skillet is.

Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top of the tater tots. 

Bake for 35 minutes, or until the tater tots are golden brown and the casserole is bubbling.

Notes

You can transfer the ground beef mixture to a 13 x 9-inch baking dish if you don't have a large ovenproof skillet.

 You can use different cheese if you prefer. We use a mixture of sharp cheddar and pepper jack.

Easy Yellow Cake

 This made from scratch yellow cake recipe is just as simple as using a boxed cake mix, without the preservatives. Just a few simple ingredients that almost everyone already has in their pantry and on hand.

Ingredients

3/4 c. butter or margarine
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 1/3 c. buttermilk or sour milk
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. flour

 Directions

Heat oven to 350°. Spray a 9 x 13-inch cake pan. You can also spray the pan with cooking spray if desired.

In a large mixing bowl, combine shortening and sugar together.  Beat well until light and fluffy.

Beat in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. 

Add buttermilk and vanilla.  Beat well. Be sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl occasionally.

Add baking powder, salt, flour to the bowl. Mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.

Bake for 40 to 42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

Allow the cake to cool completely and then frost with your favorite frosting.

Pork Chops and Asparagus

This is an easy one dish meal that takes no time at all to prepare.  Potatoes, asparagus and bell peppers baked along with pork chops. It is a very colorful meal and healthy too.

Ingredients

3 Tbs. olive oil, divided
3 c. potatoes, diced
1 bell pepper, diced
3 c. asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp. Southwest seasoning
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1/2 c. panko breadcrumbs **
1 tsp garlic
4 pork chops, cut 1 inch thick

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Lightly spray or oil a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan. 

Place the potatoes, and bell peppers in the baking pan.  Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top of the potatoes. Using your hands, mix the potatoes and peppers until they are all coated with the oil.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix them again.  Move the potatoes to one side of the baking pan.

In a low sided dish or pan, combine Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs and garlic powder. 

Place the pork chops in the baking pan. Brush the top side of the pork chops with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Using half of the Parmesan cheese mixture, divide that evenly among the pork chops. Lightly, press the mixture on top of the pork chops, so that it covers the pork chops.

Bake for 25 minutes. 

Add the asparagus to the baking sheet on the other end of the baking pan. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the asparagus. 

Turn the potatoes over with a spatula. 

Sprinkle the rest of the Parmesan cheese mixture over the top of the potatoes, asparagus and pork chops.

Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender, and the pork is cooked through.

Notes

Instead of using panko breadcrumbs, you can use stuffing mix or croutons that you crushed up finely.