Fiesta Rice Bake

This was a throw together what I had in the pantry kinda meal. It requires very little effort and is pretty inexpensive to make. * Note: I had to use sliced sharp cheddar because it was all that I had. I would have used shredded if I had had some.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups uncooked rice
-2 cans diced tomatoes ( I used one original and one with green chilies. Mix and match as you please )
-2 cans pinto beans rinsed and drained ( you can use black beans as well )
- 2-4 cups if shredded cheddar ( I am guessing )
- Salt, pepper, and cumin to taste

Cook the rice according to package directions. When cooked place in a large bowl with all of the ingredients except for the cheese. When it is seasoned to your taste and you have mixed it together add it to a greased baking dish. Top with as much cheese as you would like. Place in 350 oven for 20-30 min.

Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo

This is very easy to make! Everyone enjoyed it :)

Ingredients :

• - 1lb medium frozen shrimp peeled and deveined
• -18 ounces fresh fettuccine
• - 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
• - 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice ( you may want to use less )
• - 12 tablespoons unsalted butter. Plus 3 Tbs for the shrimp
• - 2 cups grated Parmesan
• - Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
• - Salt and freshly ground white pepper
• - 2 tsp of garlic

Thaw shrimp according to package. Place the shrimp in a pan with the butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Saute until just done. Set aside.

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Drain.

Stir 2 cups of the cream and the lemon juice in a heavy large skillet to blend. Add the butter and cook over medium heat just until the butter melts, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Add the pasta and toss. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of cream, and Parmesan to the cream sauce in the skillet. Add the nutmeg, salt, and white pepper. Toss the pasta mixture over low heat until the sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute.

Easy Chicken Cacciatore

This is a 15min meal! On nights when dinner is running late this is a life saver. If you have large chicken breasts you will want to cut them in half.  I served this with a side salad.

Ingredients:
   - 1lb of fresh chicken breasts ( or cooked frozen chicken breasts)
   - 1lb whole wheat spaghetti
   - 1 jar of spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce
   - Parmesan Cheese

In a large skillet place either chicken breasts ( frozen or fresh ) in skillet. Pour the jar of sauce over the chicken. Cover and simmer for 15 min for fresh. 20 min for frozen. While chicken is simmering cook your pasta. When chicken is done cut it up into bite size pieces and return to pan. Add the cooked pasta and mix. Top with Parmesan cheese.

Apple Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and Broccoli Cole Slaw

My kids loved this. I actually got this recipe for the sandwich from a Weight Watchers magazine. They of coarse used low fat items. For instance the cheese is 4 Tbs of low fat shredded cheddar cheese per sandwich and low fat mayo.
I doubled it to accommodated my family. The original serves 4. So just take my amounts and cut it in half :)
Sandwich Ingredients:
                                 - 16 slices of whole grain bread
                                 - 2 gala apples
                                 - 4 Tbs Mayo
                                 - 4 Tbs Country Dijon ( the grainy dijon mustard )
                                 - 16 slices of Cheddar Cheese
                                 - Non stick spray or butter
Cut the apples in 1/4ths. Take each quarter and cut them into 8 slices. You will use 8 slices per sandwich. Then mix the mayo and the mustard together in a small bowl. Spray your griddle with the non stick spray and get it heating up. Spray the back sides of all of the bread slices with non stick spray. Spread each slice with the mayo/mustard mix. Then place one slice of cheese down on a slice of bread. Top that with the apple slices. Then top with another piece of cheese. Followed by a piece of bread. Place on the hot griddle until golden brown on both sides. If the cheese is not as melted as you would like . Place them on a cookie sheet and place in a 350 degree oven until melted.

Ingredients For The Broccoli Cole Slaw:
                                  - 1 package of broccoli cole slaw mix
                                  - 1 jar of cole slaw dressing
Put the mix in a bowl. Then add as much of the dressing that you like. Let chill for 2 hrs.before serving.