MrsDrPoe: Fried Rice

What's for dinner this Wednesday is a protein packed, meatless dish that is perfect for using up stuff you have around the house: friend rice.

Ingredients: 1 cup rice, 2 cups water, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup cashews, 2 carrots, 1/4 cup green beans, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder.

While the rice is cooking in the water (and a splash of soy sauce), chop the veggies and nuts, and saute in a wok or skillet with the seasonings and soy sauce:

After they're slightly tender, push the veggies to the sides of the pan and scramble the eggs in the center:

Add the cooked rice, stir to combine, and serve: 

MrsDrPoe: Apple Sauce

It's another What's for Dinner Wednesday where dessert is on the menu!  As I shared last week, we received a baby food maker as a gift.  So, even though it'll be a while before I use it regularly, I wanted to try it out.  Here's my take on apple sauce...made in the baby food maker but fit for any adult!

Ingredients: 1 apple (cored and split in at least 8 pieces), water, and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon.

Steam the apple slices according to baby food steamer directions (or using a steamer and saucepan on the stove top):

Drain the water from the steamer (or transfer to a small food processor), add cinnamon, and puree until the apple sauce reaches the desired consistency.  Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: A Special McDonalds Treat

I'm not sure if I'm cheating or not for this What's for Dinner Wednesday...or maybe I cheat every other Wednesday...

It's actually easier for Mr. Poe and I to eat out on Wednesday nights.  Tonight, we went out to McDonald's to try their Cherry Berry Chiller, a new fruit slushy made from 100% fruit juice and on sale for $1 through Saturday.

The slush is AMAZING, and you should all go and try it before the price goes up (if they're having this promotion in your area)!

MrsDrPoe: Fruity Grilled Cheese

It's another edition of What's for Dinner Wednesday, and tonight I have another recipe from the kitchen of Mrs. Luke- fruity grilled cheese.

Ingredients: cheese to taste (we used American, but she assures me Cheddar's better), 2 slices of bread, 2 tablespoons blueberry jam, 2 tablespoons softened butter.

Butter each slice of bread on a single side, and place buttered sides together (in order to assemble without getting butter everywhere).  Spread the jam on the top non-buttered bread side, then layer the cheese on top.  

Remove the bottom piece of bread and place buttered side up on top of the sandwich.  Put the sandwich in a small sauce pan over med heat.  Cook, flipping once, until cheese is melted and outsides are golden brown (about 8 minutes).  Enjoy!

  

MrsDrPoe: Building a Better Pie Crust

I have a special treat for you this What's for Dinner Wednesday.  My latest tip for a better pie crust!  

*replace the flour in your recipe with self-rising flour*

This makes a puffier, never tough crust for pies, galettes, quiches, and more.  Enjoy one tonight!

MrsDrPoe: Sausage Sandwiches

What's for Dinner this Wednesday is a special treat that we only get when I come across a great deal on sausages...sausage sandwiches.

Ingredients: Sausages, 1/8 onion (sliced), 1/2 bell pepper (sliced), buns.

In a medium skillet over med-high heat, cook the sausages and sliced veggies until the onions are caramelized, meat is warm, and the peppers are softened (about 15 minutes).  

Place the sausage in a bun and layer some cooked veggies over it and enjoy:

This time I found turkey sausage on sale...less fat but still pretty tasty!
 

MrsDrPoe: Coconut Shrimp

What's for Dinner this Wednesday?  How about some coconut shrimp!

Ingredients: 1 bag of fresh shrimp (thawed, peeled, and deveined), 1/2 cup corn starch, 2-3 large eggs (beaten), 1/2 bag of sweetened, shredded coconut, and oil for frying.

Pat the shrimp dry, then lightly coat each one in corn starch:

Shake off any excess, and dip in the egg:

Coat in coconut, gently patting to ensure that it stays on the shrimp:

Carefully fry the shrimp till golden brown, flipping once if frying in a skillet.  Drain the friend shrimp and serve with orange sauce*.  YUM!


*To make an orange sauce, combine 1 cup of orange marmalade with 1-2 tablespoons of grated horseradish.

MrsDrPoe: Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin

It's another What's for Dinner Wednesday here on the blog!  The first time I had this side dish I was very hesitant to try it.  I was at some school function where food was being served to students; my friends and I were sure that whoever had made this was just trying to clean out the pantry.  Regardless of the chef's motivation, it turned out to be a tasty treat and one that I hope you enjoy as well...Sweet Potatoes Au Gratin.

Ingredients: 1 large sweet potato, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons flour, 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

Wash, peel, and thinly slice the sweet potato.  Melt the butter in a medium saucepan, then whisk in flour to make a roux.  Stir in milk, and continue to heat until the milk just begins to bubble and starts to thicken, stirring frequently.  After the sauce has thickened, add 1 1/2 cups of the cheese along with the salt and pepper.  Whisk until the cheese has been fully melted:

In an ungreased casserole dish, place a thin layer of the potatoes, and then cover with some of the cheese sauce.  Continue layering in this fashion until you've used all your potatoes and sauce.  Finish the dish off with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese, and bake at 350 until the potatoes are soft (about 45 minutes).  Enjoy!

 

MrsDrPoe: Chicken Enchiladas

Welcome to What's for Dinner Wednesday!  Tonight I'd like to share an experiment from Mr. Poe's favorite food genre - chicken enchiladas.

Ingredients: 8 flour tortillas, 8 oz chicken breast (cooked and shredded), 1 cup cooked rice, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 1 can Rotel, 1/2 cup sour cream, 2 cups milk (not pictured), 8 oz of shredded cheddar cheese (divided).

Combine chicken, rice, soup, Rotel, sour cream, and 1/3 of the cheese in a medium bowl:

Place a liberal amount of the mixture on a tortilla, fold, and continue until all the tortillas are stuffed.  Arrange the filled and folded enchiladas in a single layer in a casserole dish. In a small saucepan, warm the milk over med heat.  Add cheese and stir frequently until the cheese melts; pour the finished cheese sauce over the enchiladas:

Bake at 350 until filling is hot, cheese sauce is bubbly, and the tops of the enchiladas are slightly browned (about 10-20 minutes depending on the starting temperature of filling ingredients).  Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: Quiche

It's another What's for Dinner Wednesday here on the blog!  Tonight I'm going to share with you one of my favorite dishes, quiche.

Ingredients: pie crust, 5 eggs, 1/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup cooked, chopped chicken*, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese*, 1/4 cup bacon bits*.

Scatter chicken, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of your favorite pie-crust (unbaked is best).  Beat eggs, milk, and seasonings together with a fork in a medium bowl, and pour the mixture over the meat and cheese.

Bake at 350 until the egg is cooked and set and the crust is browned (about 40 minutes).  Enjoy!

*These ingredients are optional and can be changed to fit whatever you have on hand.  There is a multitude of veggies, meats, and cheeses that you can combine (or omit) to make this dish your own.

MrsDrPoe: Big Salads

What's for Dinner this Wednesday?  It's big salads here at the Poe House!  This meal is a fantastic way to use up a multitude of soon-to-expire items in your fridge.

Ingredients*: lettuce, spinach, cabbage, celery, carrots, green peppers, onions, water chestnuts, green peas, lunch meat, left-over ham/turkey/roast, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, croutons, dressing.


Toss all the ingredients after slicing/chopping (except for cheese and croutons) in a large serving bowl or several individual serving bowls.  Add remaining ingredients to individual portions right before serving.  

Any leftovers can be refrigerated and eaten another day; however, refrigerating the cheese and croutons in the mix often causes them to be soggy and gross. 

*Use your favorites or whatever you have on hand.

MrsDrPoe: Curried Chicken and Apple Pie Two Ways

Another What's For Dinner Wednesday is upon us, and tonight I'd like to share with you another result from my kitchen experiments while Mr. Poe was traveling a few months ago.  I was in the mood for chicken curry and was contemplating apple pie for dessert, so I combined the two and added in some cheddar cheese (I've always been strangely curious about the combo of apple pie and cheese) to make...curried chicken and apple pie, two ways.

Ingredients: 4 oz chicken breast (chopped), 1/2 an apple (chopped), 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons flour (not pictured), 1-2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder, 1 package saffron yellow rice (cooked), 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese.

Saute the chicken, apple, and spices in the olive oil, using a medium skillet on med heat.  When the chicken is cooked and the apple has softened, add flour to the skillet, and continue to cook for a minute longer.  Add milk, stir, and continue to heat until the sauce thickens.  Once thickened, reduce the heat and stir in the cheese until melted:

To serve...

1) For a traditional chicken curry look, pour the sauce over rice and accompany with grilled nann: 

2) For a more 'apple pie' look, spread some uncooked naan dough in the bottom of a casserole dish.  Combine the sauce with the rice, and layer it over the dough.  Cover with another layer of dough, then bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes until the naan is light brown and crispy:

 

Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: Mocha Latte

What's for Dinner Wednesday?  How about a nice, snuggly Mocha Latte!  Avoid Starbucks and save some cash for Christmas presents with this quick and easy drink.

Ingredients: 4 oz chocolate milk, 8 oz coffee or espresso.

Make the foam by pouring the chocolate milk in a jar with a lid, and shake till frothy and doubled in size (about 30 seconds):

Pour the coffee into your favorite mug, and gently pour the milk and foam in the coffee:

Enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: Pasta Salad

It's time for our What's for Dinner Wednesday post.  Tonight's dish works well cold, hot, or room temperature...as a side or the main course: Pasta Salad.

Ingredients: 1 box of hearty pasta noodles (Rotini, Penne, etc.), 2 Roma tomatoes,  1/4 of a medium onion, 1 green bell pepper, 1-2 cups of Italian dressing.

Chop the tomatoes, pepper, and onion up finely and place in a gallon-sized zipper storage bag with 1/2 - 3/4 cup of the dressing.  Seal the bag and shake it up to coat the veggies with the dressing.  Place the bag in the fridge while you make the pasta (or longer; I let mine marinade overnight):

Cook the pasta and allow to cool.  Put the pasta in the bag with the veggies and add the remaining desired amount of dressing (1/2 to 1 1/2 cups).  Seal the bag again and gently shake/massage to evenly distribute the veggies and coat the pasta with dressing.  Refrigerate, serve, or reheats as desired.  Enjoy!

 

The colors in this dish make it a great candidate for a holiday side-dish!

MrsDrPoe: Green Beans with Tomato and Onion

It's that time again folks- What's for Dinner Wednesday.  On tonight's menu is a side dish that uses up some of the last of the summer's bounty*: green beans with tomato and onion.


Ingredients: 1 medium tomato, 2 handfuls of green beans, 1/8th of a medium onion, 1-2 tablespoons olive oil (not pictured), salt and pepper (not pictured):

Pour oil in a skillet over med-high heat.  Cut the ends off the green beans, and thinly slice the tomato and onion.  Place the beans on onion in the oil and season.  Cook for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally until they have almost reached your preferred softness; add in the tomato, and cook an additional 1-2 minutes to heat the tomato:

Serve alongside your favorite main dish.  

*You could also substitute canned beans for a healthier alternative to green bean casserole during the holidays.

What are you having for supper tonight? 

MrsDrPoe: Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta

It's that time again, folks: What's for Dinner Wednesday! Today we'll look at a very lite pasta dish for two that we absolutely love: Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta.

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons olive oil (lemon infused is fantastic), 1 tomato (diced), 6-8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast (chopped), 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning, pasta (cooked), 1 teaspoon salt (not pictured), 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (not pictured).

Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to a medium skillet on medium-high. Add the chicken, garlic powder, lemon pepper seasoning, Italian seasoning, and salt. Cook until the chicken is done (approximately 15 minutes), stirring occasionally. Turn the heat down to low-medium, and add the tomato and the remaining olive oil; allow the mixture to cook for 2-5 more minutes until the tomato softens a bit:

Add cooked, drained noodles to the skillet, and toss in the mixture, coating the noodles in the oil and mixing in the chicken and tomatoes. Then enjoy!

MrsDrPoe: Fajitas

Today's What's for Dinner Wednesday is one of Mr. Poe's favorites dishes from his favorite food genre: Fajitas.

Ingredients: 6-8 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast (or skirt steak), 1/2 package fajita seasoning, 1/2 a medium-large bell pepper, 1/8 of a medium onion, 1 cup water (not shown), 2-3 tortillas (not shown), desired toppings (not shown).

Dump seasoning and water into a medium skillet, and stir to dissolve some of the seasoning in the water. Thinly slice the chicken, onion, and pepper, and add to the liquid in the skillet. Toss to coat:

Cook on med-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is done, the pepper is tender, and the onion is transparent (approximately 15 min). Spoon over tortillas:

Top with your favorite toppings (we love cheddar, sour cream, jalapenos, and salsa), and serve. Refried beans, chips and queso dip, or chips and salsa partner wonderfully with this dish, as you can probably imagine. Enjoy!