Cooking - for a new lifestyle (Our Test Kitchen)

In a deep skillet heat: 1tbsp butter 1 onion halved and sliced 3 stalks of chopped celery 1\2 diced green pepper Lightly brown then remove and set aside. In a bowl mix: 1 pound diced chicken 2 tbsp flour 3 tsp curry Salt and pepper Now stir fry all of it in 1 tbsp butter Until no longer pink. Add: Fried veg mixture 2 cups chicken stock 1 cup rice Stir. Cover. Let stand for 5 minutes. OR egg noodles instead of rice! Sprinkle with cilantro if desired. Serve with spring rolls. "Bon appetit!"

This is a super easy,  Measure, Dump and Mix. Cook 1 bag of tortellini ***we used sausage filled - I suggest mini By boiling water,  Add tortellini and turn off heat. Drain after 5 min timer goes off. Rinse with cold water. Throw in a bowl and add  1\4 to 3\4 cup pesto (to taste) Stir well. Add: 2 cups spinach leaves or greens of choice 1 can drained sliced mushrooms 1\2 can drained and rinsed white kidney beans 1 small jar chopped roasted red peppers - drained 1 small jar sliced olives - drained 1 200g container feta cheese broken up Now toss your salad Serve with breadsticks. "Bon Appetit!"

Preheat the oven at 350. In a large skillet sautee: 2 tbsp oil 1 thinly sliced onion 1 thinly sliced pepper Add: 2 cups of thinly sliced roast beef 1 can cream chicken soup 1\2 cup thousand island dressing 1\3 cup milk 1 cup of rinsed and drained sauerkraut ***note that I needed to cut up the sauerkraut as it was long strings 1 tsp onion powder Salt and pepper Heat thoroughly. Grease oven proof small dishes Or 1 casserole dish. Divide  into them. ***Freeze some and add croutons And cheese when you Thaw later. Add on top - seasoned croutons  And top with Swiss cheese (I used havarti). Pop into oven. In pan you made the mixture Boil water. Cook 3 cups of egg noodles Or pasta. Serve with fresh bread. "Bon appetit!"

1 package of Pillsbury crescent rolls Onto a sheet of parchment Break into 2 small sheets In a small food processor dice together: 1\4 green pepper or red pepper 1\4 red onion or green onion 2 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp Italian seasoning 2 tbsp soft margarine or butter 1\4 cup parmesan cheese Spread mixture thickly  On each sheet of crescent rolls. Roll into a long tube. Cut each tube into 6  or more pieces. Place circles on parchment paper And lightly press down. *** this is important  To ensure they cook through Bake at 375 until golden brown. "Bon Appetit!"

In a pot of plain water boil: 3 cups vegetable pasta *to cut calories 1\2 bag frozen brocolli *to add fibre and vitamins To al dente then drain. Pour in the bottom of A casserole dish  With 1 cup reduced sodium stock. ********** In a frying pan place: 4 chicken breasts cut in 1\2 1 cup water or reduced sodium stock Sprinkle with: Salt and pepper Dried basil And cook on medium high. ***I do not use butter or oil  To cook the meat and save calories Place on pasta. Cover the chicken with Sliced or shredded provolone cheese. Now cover the entire casserole With 1 jar alfredo sauce *preferably blue line. Sprinkle with parsley. Set aside until ready to bake. Bake at 350 Until hot and bubbly Approx 1 hour. The less processed items And the less fatty products Does not mean lack of taste! Do what you can to cut back  Where it is easy And you can add a heavy sauce  Like Alfredo to a dish. "Bon Appetit"

Once again, I prep ahead and prepare when it supper time. Cook 1 pound of ground meat Drain and set aside In a bowl combine: 1 large can tomato sauce (16oz) 1 can drained rinsed black beans 1 can corn drained 1 small can diced tomatoes  *** I found finely chopped tomatoes & green Chile's in the international aisle of the store 2 tbsp onion 1 1\2 tsp chili powder 3\4 tsp cumin 3\4 tsp garlic powder 1\2 tsp oregano Optional: 4oz green chiles Mix well set aside. Grate enough cheese to cover a couple times 3 to 4 cups. I used shredded tex Mex bag. 1 package of tortillas (8) *** When it is dinner time In a greased casserole dish layer: 3 Tortilla Sauce mix Meat  Cheese 3 Tortilla Sauce mix Meat Cheese 2 Tortilla Sauce mix Bake uncovered at 350 For 30 minutes Serve with Mexican rice or chips. "Bon appetit!"

An LDO favourite we love seeing come in from Teena. I do not have "her" recipe but this one was good too. *note! If doing for a buffet make it gluten free by using Hellmans! Prep 3 to 4 cups cooked poultry -shredded or cubed (cut into small pieces)  In a large bowl mix: 1 cup chopped celery 1\2 cup diced onion 1 can sliced water chestnuts (cut in half) 1 cup shivered almonds 1 1\2 cups mayo 1 1\2 cups sour cream 1 can cream of chicken soup 2 tbsp lemon juice Salt and pepper Stir well and pur into a baking dish. Top with: 1 cup french fried onions Or Crushed potato chips 1 cup diced green onion. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 Cover with 2 cups shredded cheese Bake for 10 minutes more Or until cheese is melted. Serve with side salad. "Bob Appetit!"

I used some leftover fingering potatoes but any potato would work, baby to Russett. Take out your favourite size casserole dish (depending on how much is needed) Now cut up potatoes  And throw into dish. Cover with diced onion. In a small bowl whip together: 1 cup soft (not melted) butter or margarine 2 tbsp minced garlic 2 tbsp parsley 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder Salt and pepper Now coat potatoes. If done right it will resemble Potato salad! Now cover with: 1 cup of broth And top with: 1 cup frozen green beans Bake at 350 for an hour.  Stirring every 15 minutes. This was delicious!  Definitely enough butter and garlic  To add a sliced zucchini  Or sliced mushrooms too Before placing in oven.! "Bon appetit!"

Cook pork chops In 2 tsp oil until just done And set aside. To fry pan add: 1\3 cup diced green pepper 1\3 cup diced onion Stir fry. Then add 2 cup broth 1 can pineapple  (they say chunk - I prefer shredded) 1\4 cup ketchup 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp vinegar Bring to a boil and shut off heat. Return meat to sauce and cover. Let stand until dinner time. Reheat and simmer for 20 minutes Turning meat once to get sauce On both sides. If necessary, Mix 2 tbsp cornstarch  and 1\4 cup water Then add to sauce to thicken. Serve with broiled potatoes. DEFINITELY could add "Bon appetit!"

John asked for pineapple on grocery day. Naturally one serving and the rest sits there. I decided cake. So here you go: Prep one rectangular cake pan By lining with parchment paper. Drain 1 can of crushed pineapple Saving juice. In a bowl mix; Drained pineapple 1\2 cup soft butter 2 cup brown sugar Pour into pan  Onto parchment and spread evenly. Then: Take 6 eggs and separate. Set aside egg whites. To the yolks add: 8 tbsp of pineapple juice 2 tsp vanilla Then set aside. In a bowl mix: 1 1\2 cup flour 1 1\4 cup sugar 1\2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder Then set aside. Take a mixer and a big bowl: And beat egg whites on high Gradually adding 3 tbsp sugar Until still peaks form. Reduce speed to medium Gradually add flour mixture Followed by egg yolk mixture. Mix until batter is spreadable. Add more pineapple juice of necessary. Spread batter in pan over pineapple Fairly evenly. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes. Let cool Then invert Peel off parchment And serve. We made our with fresh

In a large roasting pan  On a stove burner bring to a boil for 5 minutes: 1 bottle\can vegetable cocktail or tomato juice 1\2 can water 1 can diced tomatoes 1/4 c. cider vinegar 2 tbsp. brown sugar, packed 1 tbsp. dry mustard 2 tsp minced garlic 1/2 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper 1 mesh bag of pickling spice *** you can use a cup of sauerkraut or the juice of one jar of pickles This is you cabbage roll sauce. Then add and stir well.; 1 onion, chopped 1 cup celery chopped Bring to a full boil. Stir in: 1 lb cooked ground meat 1\2 cup cooked rice 4 cups rough cut (no core) cabbage Stir and turn of heat, cover and let stand Until 1 hour before dinner. *you can also prep ahead  and throw in fridge for next day. Place roaster into  An oven, at 350 with lid on For 1 to 1.5 hours until cabbage is tender. **note the reason I precook my rice is so the sauce does not dry up. The cabbage and rice absorb a ton of the liquid so keep an eye on it and add more water or tomato juice if needed.

In a Ziploc bag mix: 1 1\4 cup flour tbsp poultry seasoning (I made my own! Which is: 1\2 tsp salt 1\2 tsp fresh ground pepper 1\2 tsp garlic powder 1\2 tsp onion powder 1\2 tsp dried thyme 1\2 tsp dried basil 1\2 tsp dried rosemary 1 tsp dried parsley 1 tsp paprika Optional: 1\2 tsp cayenne pepper) In a bowl whisk: 2 egg 1 cup milk Dip 4- 8 pieces of chicken into egg mixture  then coat in flour. Repeat to use everything up. Fry the chicken in 1\4 cup oil  or in air fryer. Place in casserole dish. To make sauce  (I used my food processor) Lightly pulse chop: 1 1\2 cup rhubarb 2 tbsp chopped onion 2 tsp minced garlic Add then pulse: 1\2 cup brown sugar 1\2 cup honey 3 tbsp soy sauce Add then pulse: 1\4 cup cornstarch 1 cup water Pour over prepared chicken And Bake 40 minutes uncovered. Serve over rice or pasta. "Bon appetit!"

Take out 4 bowls. In a Ziploc bag shake: 3 tsp lemon zest 2 tsp parsley 2 tsp garlic With 1lb of thawed, cleaned,  eveined shrimp diced! Marinate - the longer obviously the better Overnight is best ***hint! If you buy the shrimp ahead of time Add ingredients to a Ziploc bag and freeze! Now we will prep. In bowl #1 mix: 1\4 cup of butter 1 small chopped onion 2tsp garlic In bowl #2 mix: 1 tsp lemon zest 1\2 cup whipping cream Salt and pepper In bowl #3 mix: 4oz cream cheese 2 tbsp lemon juice In bowl #4 mix: 2 cups diced tomatoes 2 tsp parsley Ok now you are prepped. Refrigerate until supper. Boil your choice of pasta To al dente and drain pasta. In a deep sautee pan On medium high: Stir fry  Bowl #1 for 2-3 minutes Add Bowl #2 for 1 minute *stir well Add Bowl #3 and mix carefully for 2 minutes Add Bowl #4 and bring to a bubbly boil Throw in your marinated shrimp And when turning pink Add the pasta. Stir well. Sprinkle with parmesan and chives. Serve with breadsticks and a b

Par boil 4 cups Asparagus tips and one length down. Drain and set aside to cool. In a sautee pan: Lightly brown  1lb thin sliced beef strips Turn heat off Add: 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp sesame oil 1 tbsp rice vinegar 1 tbsp honey 1\2 tsp ginger root 2 tbsp lime juice Stir well.  Add 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds The asparagus tips 1\2 tsp cilantro Set aside mixture to cool. In a large bowl make a green salad Using your favourite ingredients. Greens Shaved carrots Thinly sliced radishes Diced pepper Diced onions Drizzle with Asian sesame dressing And top with some shredded Spiced monster jack cheese We served with some Air fried pot stickers. "Bon appetit!"

Soooo easy! Slice 3 sausages thinly,  Easier to do from semi frozen. Stir fry  Then reduce heat to medium. Add: 1 chopped onion 3 tsp minced garlic 1\4 tsp red pepper flakes 1 cup frozen or canned(drained) corn 1 cup diced green pepper Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add: 3 thinly sliced potatoes 2 cubes frozen spinach 3 cups broth Bring to bubbly boil. Reduce heat to medium low. Cook covered for 20 minutes. "Bon Appetit!"

I like cooking, and now that some processed items cost the same as the stuff requiring my work, I have been taking some shortcuts!!! So watch for "I used" items. Bake 8 strips of bacon to cooked but not crisp in a shallow baking pan. *I cheated and used a bag of maple leaf precooked crumbled bacon* Place 4 boneless chicken breasts cut in half, into bacon drippings. Brush with olive oil. Place one leaf of basil on each piece *I sprinkled with Italian seasoning*. Cover the meat in thinly sliced tomatoes. *note: I think a can of diced tomatoes would work if needed* Top lightly with shredded mozzarella cheese Bake at 350 for an hour covered. Remove lid and cover each piece with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 more minutes. Serve with a big salad and thick slices of fresh bread. "Bon Appetit!"