Chicken Broth: Powder vs Cubes

I used to buy chicken bullion cubes but I got tired of stabbing them to death with a fork because they never dissolved all the way. I now buy chicken bullion powder which is SO much easier! Add 1 tsp per 1 cup of water, and wala! No stabbing involved! (Also MUCH better deal than buying chicken stock in the carton.)

Parslied Potatoes

1 1/2 lbs small red potatoes (or regular potatoes cut into chunks)

1 TBL vegetable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 C. chicken broth

1 C fresh parsley, or a few TBL dried parsley

1/2 tsp pepper

Wash potatoes. Sautee onions and garlic in oil for 5 minutes. Add chicken broth and 3/4 C. parsley. Boil. Place potatoes in skillet and return to boil. Simmer and cover 10 minutes. Remoe potatoes and add pepper and remaining parsley.

I like this recipe because: It's different and doesnt' take much effort/time.

My least favorite thing: Last time I make it I mixed the wrong amount of chicken broth powder/water, but it was still good!

Fried Squash

squash, sliced

butter

flour

eggs

salt & pepper

Dip squash in eggs, then flour. Fry each side in buttered pan (I use the electric skillet.) Salt and pepper each side!

I like this recipe because: It is SO good and reminds me of my childhood! My kjds LOVE these!

My least favorite thing: Cooked in butter, not the healthiest but they ARE vegetables....

Garlic Fries

1/3 C. olive oil

4 large cloves garlic, chopped (or more if you like garlic!)

salt & pepper

4 lbs potatoes cut into wedges

1/2 C. parsley

Preheat over to 425. In bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, 1/2 TBL salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper. Toss with potatoes. Put potatoes on 2 baking sheets. Bake 45 minutes. Toss with parsley.

I like this recipe because: It doesn't have many ingredients and we LOVE garlic! They're baked, not fried!

My least favorite thing about this recipe: Waiting!

Steak Marinade

1/3 C. soy sauce
1/2 C. olive oil
1/3 C. lemon juice
1/4 C. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 TBL garlic powder
3 TBL basil
1 1/2 TBL parsley

Blend above in blender. Marinate steaks overnight or even just a few hours. Remove steaks and grill, discard marinade.

I like this recipe because: It is seriously SO delish! I have all the ingredients laying around. Even if I forget to pre-marinate, I can whip this up and the steak STILL tastes awesome even if it only marinated an hour.

My least favorite thing about this recipe: Measuring all the stuff....I usually just throw in however much I want.

Mongolian Beef

4 tsp vegetable oil

2 tsp ginger, minced (I used powder)

2 TBL garlic, minced

1 C. soy sauce

1 C. water

1 C. brown sugar

2 C. vegetable oil

2 lb flank steak

1/2 C. corn starch

3 lg green onions

Make sauce by heating 4 tsp vegetable oil over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic and quickly add soy sauce and water before the garlic burns. Dissolve brown sugar in sauce, then boil 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens a bit. Remove from heat and set aside.

Slice steak into 1/4 inch strips. Dip in cornstarch to apply a THIN dusting to both sides. Let beef sit 10 minutes. As it sits, heat up 1 C. oil in a wok. Saute beef only for 2 minutes. Drain meat on paper towels and discard oil. Add meat back into the pan and cook 1 minute. Add sauce and green onions and cook 1 more minute. Add constarch/water to thicken. Serve over rice.

I like this recipe because: It is like restaurant good!!

My least favorite thing about this recipe: So much oil!

Sweet Pork (like at Cafe Rio!)

2 lbs pork (boneless rib meat)

3 cans Coke (or a 2 liter bottle)

1/4 C. brown sugar

garlic salt

1/4 C. water

1 can sliced green chilies

3/4 can enchilada sauce

1 c. brown sugar

Marinate pork in 1 1/2 cans Coke (or 1/2 of a 2 liter bottle) and 1/4 c. brown sugar for a few hours. Drain marinade and put pork into 1/2 can of Coke (1/4 of 2 liter bottle), water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for 3-4 hours. Remove pork and shred. Throw liquid out.

In blender, blend 1/2 can Coke (remainder of 2 liter bottle), chilies, enchilada sauce, and 1 cup brown sugar. Put shredded pork and sauce in crockpot for 2 hours on low.

I like this recipe because: It's really good for company. You can eat it a lot of different ways. Like on a hamburger bun, in a tortilla, or on chips!

My least favorite thing about this recipe: I have to REALLY preplan and we can never eat it all!