Pan Seared Tilapia with Caramelized Onions plus Chickpea Artichoke Salad

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


Pan Seared Tilapia with Caramelized Onions plus Chickpea Artichoke Salad
  (Trust me - it's a crowd pleaser!)


Pan Seared Tilapia with Caramelized Onions
2 large Vilalia Onions, diced or cut into strips
5 Tilapia Fillets (1 per child, 2 per adult)
Olive Oil
Salt


Place Onions in a large skillet, drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt.  Toss to coat.
Cook over medium-high heat until onions are browned and soft. (leave them alone at first to allow them to brown, toss once and let them alone again to brown the other side.  Then, add a little water to coat and stir - this quickens the softening process.  After water evaporates, you are done).
Remove Onions from the pan and set aside.
Add more olive oil to the skillet, sprinkle tilapia with salt and place in the skillet.
Cook on both sides for 2-3 minutes or until fish flakes easily.
Cover with onions to serve!


Chickpea Artichoke Salad
(Apron's Simple Meals - 2010 Publix Supermarkets, Inc.)
1/2 cup canned artichokes, finely chopped
1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
1 bag baby arugula leaves 
1/2 cup canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/3 cup oilve oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper


Combine arugula, chickpeas, onions and artichokes.
Whisk oil, vinegar, salt and pepper until blended; add to salad.  Toss and serve.
Use Romaine for a milder lettuce.

Pizza on the Grill - what??

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....

Grilled Pizza

This is a great summer meal!  It's fun for everyone to top their own!  

Crust Know-how!

Go to your Publix Deli and Purchase enough pre-made pizza dough for your family or make your own

  (I find that their dough makes two regular pizzas or 4 individual pizzas)

Mix together: 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning, 3 gloves minced garlic

Lightly flour the back of a metal baking sheet or large cutting board - this is going to be your work surface and pizza paddle.  You may need to use two or three.  If you have everyone shaping their own - use a thick, folded piece of foil per person.

Stretch out the dough to the size of the baking sheet and place on the sheet. 

Brush oil seasoning onto the dough and flip dough out onto the grill. Remove baking sheet and brush oil onto the side facing up.

Grill over direct medium heat until the underside of the dough is marked, 1 to 3 minutes. 

Slide the dough onto the baking sheet (or The Pampered Chef Mega Lifter) and flip the ungrilled side onto the grill. Brush the top with more oil and continue to grill for 3 to 4 minutes.  (Do not overcook at this step - even if the dough does not look done)

Remove from grill and cool slightly on a cooling rack. Add toppings, return to grill, close lid and grill to desired doneness (cheese melts etc.) 

Topping Ideas:

Buffalo Chicken Pizza: Mix together shredded chicken, cheddar cheese, buffalo rub (or hot sauce) and ranch dressing.

Greek Pizza: Shredded Chicken, Kalamata Olives, Fresh Spinach, Feta Cheese

Alfredo Pizza:  Spread Crust with pre-made Alfredo Sauce.  Top with Spinach, Chicken and Mozzarella Cheese

Taco Pizza:  Top with leftover taco meat, salsa, chopped onions and cheddar cheese

Bruschetta Pizza: Layer over the crust - Sliced Tomato, Sliced Fresh Mozzarella and Fresh Basil.  Sprinkle with salt.  Drizzle with olive oil!

Quick Asian Stir-Fry

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


Quick Asian Stir-Fry
This recipe is easily doubled or tripled..
1 pound lean pork or chicken, thinly sliced
1/2 box mini penne pasta, cooked and drained
1 package Bird’s Eye Steam Fresh Vegetables – Asian Medley
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper


In a large skillet, place olive oil and garlic in medium high.  Salt and pepper the meat and cook thoroughly in the skillet.
Meanwhile, place veggie bag in microwave for 8 minutes. Cook pasta!
When meat is cooked, add in pasta and veggies.
Stir to combine.
Serve!

Cool Summer Salad

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


This Cool Summer Salad is just perfect for our HOT summer day!  It's light but filling!  Switch out ingredients to your liking!


Cool Summer Salad
Arugula (This is your lettuce, if you want a milder flavor use Romaine)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup pecans
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (use feta, bleu or mozzarella (if you don't like soft cheeses))
2 cups grilled chicken breasts, sliced thin


Dressing: (Mix together the following)
2 tablespoon rice vinegar (or white)
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup olive oil
salt

Taco Tuesday

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


Taco Tuesday ... Everybody loves it!  There's lots of great stuff to choose from and you make your own!


Taco Tuesday 
Lay out in order - starting with plates!
Flour tortillas (soft taco size)
hard taco shells
Ground beef, cooked, drained and seasoned with taco seasoning packets
Shredded Cheeses
Chopped Tomatoes
Shredded Lettuce
Chopped Onion
Seasoned Rice (you can buy mexican rice - we use yellow rice)
Black Beans
Salsa
Sour Cream
Cheese Sauce (We use the Frito Lay Queso in the jar)


Ideas:
Everyone gets pretty creative but here are some ideas
Double Decker Taco:  Start with your favorite fillings in a hard taco.  Spread a soft tortilla with Queso Sauce and wrap around the hard taco


Cheese Roll-Up:  Put shredded cheese on a soft tortilla.  Microwave 1 minute and roll!


"Beefy Melt Burrito": Flour tortilla spread with Queso Sauce.  Fill with meat, rice, sour cream


Taco Salad:  Your favorite fillings on top of lots of lettuce - no shell!

Roasted Chicken, Real Good Mac n' Cheese, Lima Beans, Broccoli

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


Roasted Chicken, Real Good Mac n' Cheese, Lima Beans, Broccoli


Roasted Chicken
1 whole Chicken or 4 Breast Halves with Skin On (You can also use boneless skinless breast)
Salt
4 Garlic Cloves, Minced
1 tablespoon Rosemary (I use the Pampered Chef's Rosemary Blend*)
Olive Oil


Combine Salt, Garlic and Rosemary.  Cover with enough olive oil to make a paste.  
Lift the skin on the chicken and rub the garlic mixture under the skin.  Rub top of skin with leftovers.


Cooking Options:
Pampered Chef's Deep Covered Baker*:  Place chicken in baker.  Microwave uncovered 30 minutes
Crock Pot: Place Chicken in Crock Pot and cook on low all day (at least 3 hours)
Oven: Place in a pan and cook at 425 degrees.  Covered for 1 hour and then uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.




Real Good Mac n' Cheese
feel free to use your grandma's recipe or the "Blue Box" but my kids are fans of my creamy version
1 box elbow noodles - cooked and drained
1 stick butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese


In a medium sauce pan, melt butter.  Add salt and flour to make a pasty substance.  Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes - stirring constantly.
Gradually whisk in milk (the slower you add, the less likely you will get lumps)
Bring to a boil
Slowly whisk in cheese.  Stir constantly until melted.
Pour cheese sauce over noodles and enjoy!


Lima Beans
Pick your favorite peas or beans here
1 package frozen peas or beans
1/2 teaspoon ham base (you can use chicken, beef or ham bouillon here)


Place beans and seasoning in a sauce pot.  Cook on medium high heat for about 1 hour (for soft lima beans)


Broccoli
1 bag frozen broccoli
Kosher Salt
Olive Oil


Cook broccoli by steaming or boiling, drain.
Drizzle with olive oil and kosher salt.
You could skip the olive oil and salt and pour some of the mac n' cheese sauce over the broccoli!




** The Magic Pot and Rosemary Blend are products of The Pampered Chef, ltd.  To purchase these products, please contact your personal Pampered Chef Consultant.  If you do not have one, I will be glad to help.

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread

The answer to today's question of "Hey Mom! What's for Supper?" is....


Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Caesar Salad, Garlic Bread


I'm headed to Publix in a few to pick up my groceries!  I love making the sauce in the morning and letting it cook all day.  I also cut up the lettuce ahead of time, too!  This way if we have a busy day, supper is only 10 - 15 minutes away from ready!


Spaghetti with Meat Sauce (The easy way)
Brown Ground Beef and Drain  (you can easily substitute ground turkey or shredded chicken)
Mix in one envelope of dry spaghetti sauce seasoning mix
Mix in two jars of your favorite pre-made sauce


Cook on low for at least 30 minutes or place in a crock-pot on low all day
adding the dry sauce packet allows you to give the pre-made sauce a real burst of flavor


Serve with your favorite pasta cooked according to package directions


Caesar Salad
2-3 Romaine Hearts, cut into small pieces
Croutons
Marie's Creamy Caesar Dressing
Fresh Shaved Parmesan Cheese


Mix first 3 ingredients and top with shaved Parmesan


Buy a block of fresh Parmesan and shave it with your vegetable peeler.  Much cheaper than buying it already shaved




Garlic Bread
My family is a huge fan of Cole's Garlic Bread so that's what we do!!




I always reserve a little sauce without meat for my picky eaters and also some salad with no dressing!