Frozen Vegetable Stir-Fry

Soy sauce and peanut butter add a nice Thai-style flavor to this stir-fry. Using frozen vegetables makes it a very quick and tasty vegetable side dish.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 2 teaspoons peanut butter

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables

• Chicken (Optional)

Directions

1. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and peanut butter in a small bowl.

2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir frozen vegetables until just tender, 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Remove from heat and fold in soy sauce mixture.

Quarantine Cooking: 5 Can Chili

The apocalypse is gonna be a gas with this simple 5 can chili. Raid your bunker for these ingredients. The recipe is so simple I’m not even going to list the instructions below. Just dump and heat to kill any … uh … pathogens.

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can prepared chili with beans

• 1 (14 ounce) can whole kernel corn

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can vegetable beef soup

• 1 (10.75 ounce) can tomato soup

• 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers

Biscotti Toscani

These twice baked cookies have a delicate flavor, great with vanilla ice-cream, tea, frozen yogurt, or cappuccino.

Ingredients

• ⅓ cup butter

• ¾ cup white sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ¼ teaspoon almond extract

• 2 teaspoons orange zest

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

• ½ cup toasted almond pieces

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a large baking sheet.

• Step 2

  In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla, almond extract, and zest. Combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture until just blended. Mix in almonds. Divide dough into two pieces. Form into long flat loaves about 1/2 inch tall and 12 inches long. Place the loaves 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.

• Step 3

  Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

• Step 4

  With a serrated knife, cut diagonally into slices about 1/2 inch thick. Lay the slices flat on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, turning over once. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

• Step 5

  Place chocolate chips into a small, microwave-safe bowl. Melt chocolate in the microwave, stirring every 20 to 30 seconds until smooth. Use a spatula to spread chocolate onto one side of each cookie. Let stand at room temperature until set. Store biscotti at room temperature in an airtight container.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

'Cordon Bleu' is a French term, literally translated as 'blue ribbon', that originally referred to an award for culinary excellence given to women cooks! The term can now apply to any superior cook (yes, men too), and also to this dish (chicken, ham and Swiss cheese slices, breaded and sauteed). This yummy version adds paprika and a creamy white wine sauce worthy of its own blue ribbon.

Ingredients

• 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

• 6 slices Swiss cheese

• 6 slices ham

• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• 6 tablespoons butter

• ½ cup dry white wine

• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions

1. Pound chicken breasts if they are too thick. Place a cheese and ham slice on each breast within 1/2 inch of the edges. Fold the edges of the chicken over the filling, and secure with toothpicks. Mix the flour and paprika in a small bowl, and coat the chicken pieces.

2. Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and cook the chicken until browned on all sides. Add the wine and bouillon. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes, until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

3. Remove the toothpicks, and transfer the breasts to a warm platter. Blend the cornstarch with the cream in a small bowl, and whisk slowly into the skillet. Cook, stirring until thickened, and pour over the chicken. Serve warm.

Tofu Peanut Stir-Fry

This is absolutely the best way to eat tofu, especially for first timers. The tofu has a slightly crunchy exterior while the inside is nice and soft. It is a delicious, easy, quick, and inexpensive meal. Serve with Asian noodles or with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

• 1 (16 ounce) package frozen stir-fry vegetables

• ½ teaspoon minced fresh ginger

• salt and pepper to taste

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 1 cup cornstarch

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 (14 ounce) package firm tofu, drained and cubed

• ½ cup vegetable oil

• ¾ cup peanut sauce

• ¼ cup chopped peanuts

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat, and cook the vegetables until tender.

2. Mix in the ginger, and season with salt and pepper.

3. Remove vegetables from skillet, and set aside.

4. Place the eggs in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch, salt, and pepper.

5. Dip tofu cubes first in the egg, then the cornstarch mixture to coat.

6. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet or wok over medium heat, and cook the coated tofu 5 minutes, or until golden brown.

7. Stir in the peanut sauce and peanuts. Continue to cook and stir until sauce has thickened and tofu is well-coated.

8. Serve with the vegetables.

Spinach Brownies

This might sound crazy, but stick with me. These savory treats are a great option to get picky kids eating their veggies.

Ingredients

• 1 (10 ounce) package spinach, rinsed and chopped

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 2 eggs

• 1 cup milk

• 1/2 cup butter, melted

• 1 onion, chopped

• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. Place spinach in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer and cook until spinach is limp, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, drain, and set aside.

3. In a large bowl, mix flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in eggs, milk and butter. Mix in spinach, onion and mozzarella cheese.

4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Bake in the preheated oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool before serving.