Easy Lemon Chicken with Optional Artichoke

Ingredients:

1 can artichoke hearts (makes the dish more yummy, but it will still be yummy without)

3/4 cup grated parmesan or asiago cheese

3/4 cup mayonnaise

zest from 1 lemon

black pepper

3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

butter for searing

Chop and drain the artichokes, if using. Mix with grated cheese, mayo, lemon zest, and black pepper.

In the butter, sear the chicken breasts on each side until brown. Place them in a baking dish and cover them with the mayo mixture. Bake until chicken is done (about 25-40 minutes, depending on the size of the breasts.

Spagetti Squash of Deliciousness

Ingredients:

2 fresh, whole, heads of garlic

2 spaghetti squash

olive oil

italian seasoning

Place the garlic heads on some aluminum foil and pour a little olive oil on them. Wrap them up and roast them until soft (25-40 min).

While the garlic is roasting: cut the spaghetti squashes down the middle, scrape out the seeds, and roast them on baking sheets in the oven. 375 for about an hour.

Squeeze the garlic out of the skin. Mix with olive oil to make a paste/spread. Spread it on the squash, and sprinkle with italian seasoning.

Marvel at how something so healthy could substitute a filling pasta dish.

Quick, Cheap, Easy, Kid-Pleasing Stroganoff

Um, what the title says.

Ingredients:

~ 1.5 lbs ground beef

salt to taste

ground black pepper to taste

tbsp of onion powder

tbsp of garlic powder

1 box of pasta (I used bow-tie. Use egg noodles for more authenticity)

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup

splash of rice vinegar

While pasta is boiling: in a bowl, mix beef and seasonings. Brown the beef. Drain the pasta. Add the beef and two cans of mushroom soup. Heat until hot. At the end of cooking, add a splash of rice vinegar. DONE.

Yummy Spinach Pie

Ingredients:

2 tbs of salted butter

1 onion

5 cloves of crushed garlic

1 tomato, chopped

2 boxes chopped spinach, drained but still moist

feta cheese

shredded sharp cheddar

2 tbs dried oregano

1 tbsp dried basil

black pepper

Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets

foil-lined baking pan, dusted with flour

Saute onions and garlic, on medium high heat, in 1 tablespoon of butter. Add tomatoes, reduce heat, and cover. Mash the feta in a bowl with oregano and basil. When tomatoes become orangish, add spinach, and 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook for a few minutes. Add the feta and cheddar cheese, and turn off heat. Mix together.

Roll out both sheets of puff pastry. Lay one sheet on the pan, spread spinach filling, and top with the second sheet. Bake in a 400-425 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

The Best Method for Homemade Wings

I wish I had some fancy sauce recipe to go with these, but I've just discovered the best method for making CRISPY chicken wings at home without frying. That's right. Crispy. Without frying.

1) Boil the wings for 10 minutes.

2) Broil the wings for 5-10 minutes on each side.

3) Smother with your choice of sauce.

Yes it is that easy.

I do have a word of caution. I used parchment paper to line the baking pan, which was generally fine. However, I left my second batch in the oven a little too long... and the paper caught on fire. The wings were completely fine, but the paper surrounding them was reduced to ash. Plus, I was really surprised to walk into my kitchen and see the inside of my oven ablaze.

I'll post yummy sauce recipes as I discover them.