Heavenly Fish

Heavenly Fish

What a great blog! I am so sorry for taking so long to get this to you gals! I promise this is super easy and will be one of your new favorites! It is Heavenly!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs. Talapia fillets
• 1/4 c. softened butter
• 3 Tbsp. mayo
• 1/2 c. shredded Parmesan
• 3 Tbsp. chopped green onion
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Dash of Tabasco optional
• 2-3 Tbsp. lemon juice

Place fillets in shallow baking dish. Salt and pepper fillets and squirt with lemon juice. Let stand for 15 minutes. (I have skipped this step and it tasted fine.) Place fish under broiler on high for 5-7 minutes. While fish broils mix butter, mayo, cheese and onion. Take fish out and spread mixture over fish and return to broiler for 2-3 minutes. Enjoy!

Smoothie Queen

Just for you, Amy...foolproof instructions for making your own smoothie. Not that you are a fool, but spending $3 on a smoothie is maybe a little bit foolish!

1. Fill your blender with about 2 cups of frozen fruit (I buy the big bags at COSTCO - strawberries, other berries, mango, etc. It all works well except the frozen pinapple - I think that tastes wierd.
2. Add one banana, fresh or frozen
3. Add liquid to just cover the fruit. Juice is tasty - whatever flavor you like, but I use water to save calories 4. Blend away until totally pureed
5. Now it's time for add-ins... (I like to put in about a cup of vanilla yogurt and some flax seed meal for extra nutrition, but you can add whatever you like) 6. Blend again until mixed - and serve!

Homemade Cookie Cake

Sorry Great American Cookie Company...this one is yummy, much cheaper, and CLOSE!

1 box of vanilla cake mix
2 eggs
2 T water
1/2 cup oil
8 oz. chocolate chips
frosting (optional)


Mix first 5 ingredients together. Put in a greased pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 15 minutes. Top with frosting if you'd like - they're good without too!

Two Fast Dinners

With Valentine's Day tomorrow and then only one month until Easter here are two fast and easy recipes that will get dinner on the table in no time at all! I don't even think you can call this cooking it is so simple!

Longhorn Chicken AKA "No Peek" Apricot Chicken for the Aggies

1/2 cup Apricot Jam
1 envelope Campbell's Onion Soup Mix
1 (8 oz.) bottle Russian Dressing
1/2 cup water
8 Pilgrim's Pride Chicken Breast Halves
Minute Rice

In small bowl, combine jam, onion soup mix, Russian dressing and water; set aside.
Place chicken in 9x13" Pyrex baking dish.
Pour apricot mixture over chicken. Cover with foil and seal. Bake at 250 degrees for 3 to 4 hours, and remember, no peeking.

Serve over rice.


Black Bean Chicken Tacos

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breats, cubed
2 cups salsa
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
Tortillas
Cheddar Cheese, Sour Cream & Guacamole, if desired for topping

In a large skillet, combine the chicken, salsa, beans, onion powder, chili powder and cumin. Cover and simmer 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve in tortillas with toppings.

Blackened Chicken

Ok, I know I stand the chance of stepping on some authentic Cajun toes, but Blackened Chicken is often something that most people shy away from making. So, here's a recipe that I think is yummy but not too spicy at all. Can be cut into strips for Chicken Alfredo or Chicken Caesar Salad, served with wild rice and veggies, or substitued for the chicken in any of your recipes for an extra kick.

This can get a little smoky, so make sure you open your windows and turn on the vent just in case!

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
Vegetable Oil

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Mix together paprika, salt, cayenne, cumin, thyme, white pepper, and onion powder.
3. Rub each side of chicken breasts with spice mixture.
4. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat until bubbling.
5. Place chicken in hot pan, seasoned side down, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
6. Turn, and cook 1-2 minute on other side.
7. Place breasts on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
8. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15, or until no longer pink and juices run clear.

Thai Fajitas

These always bring great fan fare with them, they are great for the fam, Bunco dinner or even hosting a large group as it can be doubled so easily.


2 Lbs beef round or flank steaks trimmed and sliced
1 C soy sauce
Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic
1-3 tsp red pepper flakes
flour tortillas
avocado
lime
cilantro
chopped peanuts
sour cream

Quickly saute meat in EVOO and garlic. Add in soy sauce and red pepper flakes, adding additional spice depending on your audience. Allow to cook down over low heat for 30 minutes or so, carefully monitoring so the soy sauce doesn't carmelize and over cook the meat.

Serve with remaining ingredients. I also offer edamame, Pad Thai noodles and spring rolls.

Short on Time?

At any given moment, on any given day, I can have the four girls scattered at playdates, extracurricular activities, or school events. So I'm all about dinner being as quick and easy and painless as possible. My number one time saving tool:


We use this chicken for EVERYTHING!! Quesadillas, pizzas, salads, casseroles, you name it, this little bag saves me time!

Here's one of our favorite dinners, made in 20 minutes, you can't beat that! (I usually double it to feed my family of six.)


Chicken Tortellini Divan

1 can ready to serve chicken broth
2 tablespoons flour
1 (9 oz) package frozen cut broccoli (yes you read that right, BROCCOLI!)
1 (9 oz) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
1 bag Tyson Diced Chicken Breast
1/2 cup sour cream

1. In small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of broth with flour, blend until smooth, set aside.

2. In medium saucepan, bring the rest of the broth to a boil, add the broccoli, then return to a boit. Stir in the tortellini and cook 3-5 minutes until broccoli and tortellini are tender.

3. Stir in chicken. Add the flour mixture, cook about 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and stir in sour cream. Cook and stir until thoroughly heated.

Okay you got me, I don't ALWAYS put broccoli in this dish. It just depends on what kind of mood I'm in! But the girls love it, especially on the nights when the broccoli is omitted ;-)

In the Kitchen with our Guest Chef Monda

Our first guest chef, Monda sent us this yummy recipe! Monda is a fabulous gal, wife to Josh, mommy to Jonah, and owner of Riley, the cutest little puppy EVER!!

This is one of my favorite appetizers I thought I would share for your Hot Moms Cook blog! It's a simple recipe that I make it for all of our parties and holiday events. It taste like a twice baked potato!! YUM! It's made with Daisy Sour Cream, which of course is the best! ;) and when you purchase Daisy you help support Jonah's college fund! LOL (Josh is the IS Director for Daisy)



Warm Creamy Bacon Dip
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Time To Table: 35 Minutes
Serves: 12


8 ounces softened cream cheese
16 ounces Daisy Brand Sour Cream
3 ounces bacon bits
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I always add more cheese)
1 cup chopped green onion

Bring cream cheese to room temperature. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Place in 1-quart baking dish. Cover. Heat 25-30 minutes or until hot. Serve with assorted fresh vegetables, crackers and/or chips. Makes 3 cups. *Serving option: Dip may also be placed in hollowed round sourdough loaf, wrapped in foil and heated in 400 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Thanks so much to Monda for contributing this recipe!! If you would like to check out her family adventures, visit her at http://theschneiderfamily.blogspot.com/.

And remember if you have a great recipe to share, just email us! We'd love to feature you too!

Black Bean Salad

2 cans black beans, drained, about 30 ounces
1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
1/4 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup diced green onions
1/4 cup diced pineapple
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
4 tablespoons salad vinegar
Juice of 1/2 lime
3 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
Pinch ground cumin

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Congratulations PATRIOTS and GIANTS! Happy Super Bowl Sunday.

Haystacks

My grandmother had the best methods for getting us to eat our dinner.
She came up with "haystacks" (much like taco salad) and we still love it to this day, over 30 years later.
This makes a great party food, since people can build their haystacks according to their palette's.

Ingredients:
Tostitos Scoops
Ground Sirloin
Black Beans
Shredded Cabbage
Avocado
Tomatoes
Black Olives
Mexican Rice
Sour Cream
Salsa
Taco Seasoning

Directions:
Brown meat, add taco seasoning to taste. Warm black beans.
Line the plate with scoops (chips). Layer on rice, ground meat, black beans, shredded cheese and any other desired toppings.


Kids may eat more of the ingredients if they can build their HAYSTACK themselves.