Italian Style Mix Up

For Saturday night dinner last week, I made an Italian style meal based on baked ziti, but without the baking. It is a go to  meal for me because it is hearty, delicious and pretty easy! Enjoy!

Italian Style Mix Up Ingredients

You need:

One package of ground turkey

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon italian seasoning

3 cups of rigatoni

1/2 cup of mozzarella

 parmesan cheese to taste

1 can of tomato sauce ( I make my own, recipe coming soon!)

sprinkle of salt and pepper

Cook ground turkey thoroughly. While it is cooking, season with the garlic powder, italian seasoning and salt and pepper.  While meat is cooking, boil water for macaroni. Bring sauce to a boil while meat and macaroni are cooking.  After draining pasta, combine pasta and cooked meat with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, pour sauce over pasta and stir. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese! Yum!

Easy like Sweet Cornbread on Sunday Morning

This morning for breakfast, I made this sweet cornbread. I usually make this with turkey chili, but I decided to mix it up and make it for breakfast today.  Enjoy!

Sweet Cornbread Ingredients

For the full recipe, go to http://allrecipes.com/recipe/golden-sweet-cornbread/

The only things I do differently from the recipe are mix it in the Kitchenaid mixer,  bake for 25-30 minutes and line the cake pan with Crisco. (I know the Crisco doesn't sound healthy, but that is a trick my sister taught me for baking and it works every time for unsticking baked goods!)

Mom's Mashed Potatoes

I've been trying to perfect my Mom's mashed potatoes for years! I think this recipe just about replicates them..although nothing is as good as Mom.:) My mom taught me some tricks over the years, when I was frustrated that they just weren't quite right...here is the recipe..with those tips and tricks! Enjoy! 

Mom's Mashed Potatoes Ingredients

You need: 

6 or 7 medium potatoes (washed and peeled)

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup of milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

and my favorite kitchen tool: The kitchenaid mixer!

After washing and peeling potatoes, boil them for 20 minutes or until soft, but not falling apart. Drain the potatoes and put them into the mixer. Add the milk, butter and salt. It seems like a lot of salt, but that is one of the tricks to good mashed potatoes! Let the potatoes mix for three minutes. The more time that they mix the better. It's all in how long you mix them! Taste and add more salt or butter to your liking:) Thanks, Mom!

Easy Fettuccine Alfredo on a week night:)

Tonight I made an easy fettuccine alfredo. Delicious and super easy...even for a Tuesday night:)

Enjoy:)

Fettuccine Alfredo Ingredients

You need:

1/2 package of fettuccine noodles

1 cup of heavy cream

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Boil water for pasta. In another saucepan, melt the butter, when it is good and melted add the cup of heavy cream. Stove should be at medium heat. The secret to thickening this sauce is to let the cream come to a boil, then add parm cheese to thicken. Once you add the parm, turn the heat to a low/medium. Add nutmeg. (This makes it so delicious!) (If you have nut issues, substitute nutmeg for 1 teaspoon of garlic.)  Continue to cook until sauce thickens up a bit. If the sauce is not thickening enough, add a bit more parm cheese. When pasta is ready, toss cooked pasta in Alfredo sauce. Sprinkle with parmesan on top to taste. Yum:)

Italian Style Risotto, Breaded Chicken and Roasted Broccoli

For Saturday night dinner last night, I made Italian style risotto, breaded chicken and roasted broccoli. Risotto is an old stand by in our house. Enjoy!

Risotto Ingredients

You need:

2 cups of risotto

2 cans of chicken broth

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese

I like to use my Le Creuset large pot for risotto. Start with 11/2 tablespoons of butter. Melt in pot. Add risotto when butter has melted. Mix butter with risotto throughly. Once butter is mixed in, add 1/4 cup of chicken broth. Let chicken broth boil down while stirring. Continue to add 1/4 cup of chicken broth while stirring for 20-30 minutes or until risotto does not have a crunch to it. When risotto is soft, add 1/2 cup of parm cheese and the rest of the butter. Enjoy! 

Breaded Chicken Ingredients

You need: 

1 egg

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup milk

2 chicken breasts

These springer chicken breasts are great because they are individually packaged for quick unfreezing. I usually use the progresso bread crumbs, but I changed it up for this recipe and went with Whole Foods fresh bread crumbs. I don't think I can go back! These bread crumbs gave the chicken a really good crust and it was yummy!

To get ready to make this chicken, heat oil in frying pan and preheat oven to 400. Get it nice and hot and make sure there is enough oil in pan. That is the trick to making the crust of the chicken stick perfectly, hot pan and oil:) Next,  you need to combine milk and egg in a bowl. Combine bread crumbs and garlic in another bowl. Dip the chicken first in the bread crumbs, then in the egg mixture, then again in the bread crumbs. (That is secret number two:) Double dipping:) Transfer to hot pan. Cook in frying pan for one minute on each side. Transfer to preheated oven.   Cook for 20 to 30 minutes until chicken is white. I always cut in to check:) 

Oven Roasted Broccoli

You need: 

1 head of broccoli

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1 clove of garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

3 tablespoons oil 

I like to use my Le Creuset roasting pan for this. The broccoli comes out awesome!  Preheat oven to 400. Chop broccoli and clove of garlic. Combine all ingredients and bake for 25 minutes, until broccoli is crispy but tender. Be careful of how much lemon juice you add. Too much really messes with the taste!

Have a great week:)

Welcome to What's for Dinner? I love to cook and I am always looking for new recipes and ideas, so I thought I would share what I cook for dinner for those who are also always searching for new meals:) 


Enjoy!