Pesto Marinated Grilled Chicken

Notes: Super fast and easy to throw together early and then throw on the grill later when ready. Was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the pesto taste on it. Although the chicken still had lots of marinade on it when I threw it on the grill, it didn't feel overwhelming when eating it. Was given a thumbs up by the elders as well.

from Mels

Yield: Serves 4-6

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup pesto (storebought or homemade)
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Place the chicken in a gallon-sized ziploc bag. Pour in the pesto, rice vinegar, salt and sugar. Seal the bag and shake it up until the marinade is combined and the chicken is well coated.
2. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours.
3. Preheat an outdoor grill. Grill the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side until cooked through (or an instant read thermometer reaches 160 degrees). Tent the chicken with foil and let rest 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.
4. Alternately, the chicken can be broiled or cooked on an indoor grill pan or skillet.

Thai Beef Satay (Cilantro Lime Marinade)

 

Notes: Loved this. Could really taste the lime and cilantro. No need for the peanut sauce. I made it, but we didn't use it as the meat was so good on its own and the sauce hid the meats flavors. Was quick. Bought beef already in fajita strips which worked great as I didn't have to slice but could just dump into the marinade. They were pretty thin.

from Mels

Yield: Serves about 4

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice (about 4 limes)
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
• 4 cloves garlic
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, chopped
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili-garlic sauce or sririacha
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 1 1/2 pounds flank steak, sliced 1/4-inch thick against the grain
• Red peppers and fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. In a food processor or blender, puree the lime juice, cilantro, garlic, ginger, brown sugar, fish sauce, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce (or sririacha) and sesame oil.
2. Place the steak slices into a gallon-size ziploc bag or in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over the top of the meat. Refrigerate for at least an hour or up to 4 hours.
3. Thread the meat slices back and forth onto skewers (2-3 per skewer unless using shorter sticks).
4. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Grill the satay skewers for 2-3 minutes per side (longer, if needed, depending on thickness of the meat).
5. Garnish the satay with red peppers and cilantro, if desired, and serve with peanut dipping sauce.

Sweet and Spicey Pork and Pineapple Tacos

from Mels

Notes: This was simple, quick, and tasted great. A great summer, quick in the kitchen type meal. We had mangoes and cut them up and added them fresh when eating them, which was yummy! I think a little cabbage on top would be great too. Tried lettuce, which was good.

Yield: Serves 4

You have a few options for pineapple here. I've made this recipe using a 20 ounce can of pineapple chunks - draining the juice and reserving 1/4 cup for the recipe and using the pineapple in the tacos. I've also used fresh pineapple and opened one of those small 6-ounce cans of pineapple juice to use in the recipe (using 1/4 cup and reserving the rest to use in a future smoothie or something like that).

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 1-inch cubes
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 4 garlic cloves, finely minced or pressed
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (more to taste, if wanted)
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 2-3 cups diced pineapple (see note above)
• 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• Corn or flour tortillas for serving

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the pork pieces and add them to the hot skillet, browning on each side until golden (the pork doesn't need to cook all the way through in this step, just get a nice color on all the pieces).
2. Stir in the garlic, cumin, chili powder and cayenne and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the juice and pineapple and simmer the mixture until the pork is cooked through, 7-9 minutes.
3. Stir in the cilantro. Serve with corn or flour tortillas.

Amber's Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

from cousin Amber

Ingredients:

1/2 c. shortening

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 egg

1 c. canned pumpkin

2 1/2 c. flour

1 t. soda

1 t. baking powder

1 t. nutmeg

1 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. salt

1 t vanilla

6 oz. chocolate chips

Directions:

1. cream shortening + sugar

2. add egg + beat well

3. add pumpkin + vanilla

4. add dry ingredients

5. add chips!

bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes

Milch Reis (Rice Pudding)

from Mels

Notes: This tasted just like I remember it from Germany. My first Sunday in Germany all 3 sets of missionaries were invited to the ward mission leaders home for lunch. I remember just learning how to eat with my fork in my left hand. But in the area, Solingen/Wiesbaden, it is called Bergisches land. And one of their typical things is a Bergisches Kaffeetaffel. With that, coffee, or Karo and tea for LDS homes, was served. Waffles with rice pudding on top were a must. Then you could have cheeses, and meats, and other breads as well as some fruit. I loved it! 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup Arborio rice (or sushi rice works well), rinsed
• 6 cups whole milk
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split and scraped or 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, optional

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine rice, milk, vanilla bean and seeds, sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until rice is tender and liquid has absorbed, about 40-45 minutes.
2. Remove vanilla bean; stir in heavy cream. Rice pudding may be served warm, at room temperature or chilled (personally I prefer it slightly warmed).

Hauswaffeln (German style waffles)

from Wiesbaden FHV (R.S)

Notes: to be eaten with milk rice and possibly some fresh fruit on top

Zutaten:
250 g. Butter
175 g. Zucker
2 Paeckchen Vanille Zucker
6 Eier
1 Prise Salz
500 g. Weizenmehl
3 gestrichene Teeloeffel Backpulver
1/2 L Milch

Richtung:
Einen Ruehrteig herstellen
Das Fett darf nicht fluessig gemacht werden.
Der Teig soll dick fluessig vom Loeffel fallen.

Ingredients:
1 C butter
1 C sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
6 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
4 C flour
3 tsp baking powder
2 C milk

Directions:
Cream butter. (don't melt into liquid beforehand).
Add rest of ingredients except eggs to butter, mixing occasionally.
Beat eggs well in a separate bowl then add to rest of batter and mix.
The batter should be thick.

Easy Chicken Wontons

from rasamalaysia

Ingredients:

1/2 lb cooked chicken, finely cut up/shredded
1/4 lb shrimp, chopped into small pieces (optional, or add more chicken)
  3 stalk scallion, cut into rings
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt (easy on salt)
1 dash fish sauce, optional
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
3 dashes ground pepper
12 pieces wonton wrappers
Water, for sealing
Oil, for deep frying

Directions:
Combine chicken, shrimp, scallion, cornstarch together. In a separate small bowl combine salt, fish sauce, sesame oil, and pepper together and then mix in with chicken mixture.

Add chicken mixture to wonton wrapper, use water to seal ends, and wrap up. Deep fry in oil and let cool on paper towels and serve immediately.