Cheesy Quinoa and Caulliflower

Ok this recipe may have won me over to both quinoa and cauliflower! So simple fast and easy to make.

1.5 cups Chicken broth (Vegetable broth would work well too for the vegetarians)
1 cup Quinoa
1 head Cauliflower chopped
1 cup Cheese shredded. I used marble-but a sharp cheddar would be great- experiment!(OK I put in more like 1.5 cups)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a pot bring broth and Quinoa to a boil.  If you like your cauliflower add it from the start.  If you like it a bit more al dente let the quinoa come to a boil and then add the cauliflower. Once it's boiling turn down to a simmer and cover for 15-20 minutes or until broth is absorbed. Turn stove off- add the cheese and cover.  Once cheese is melted stir, add salt and pepper to taste. I Garnished with just a bit of parsley.

If you like spicey- some hot sauce added would be great!

8 servings = 142 calories/serving!

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken: Fried Rice

Baked Sweet & Sour Chicken

Warning- this is REALLY good.  And worth the effort.  It's easy but takes some time to cook (1 hour) So get it into the oven then make the rest of your meal. Which for me gives it 1 more star of awesomeness.  Preheat oven to 325F 

• 3-4 chicken breasts cubed
• 1/2 cup corn startch
• 2 eggs beaten 
• salt and pepper 
• 1/8 cup oil 

Sauce:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 4 tablespoons Ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Soya Sauce

 Take your cubed chicken and season with salt and pepper. Then take each piece, dip into cornstartch, then egg and set aside.  Once every piece is done heat your oil in a large saucepan and then brown the chicken.  Turn several times and try to keep the pieces from sticking together

ready to go into the oven

Place into a 9x13 greased pan. Whisk together the sauce ingredients- pour over top and place into the oven.  Cook for 1 hour. Every 15 minutes stir the chicken so it gets covered again by the sauce.  Cook the entire hour it takes that long for the sauce to start to cook down to the proper texture. Serve spooning sauce over top

All done and ready to eat!

Fried Rice

This is my son's favorite thing.  I mixed it up a bit by using the non traditional veggies (Carrots and peas).

• two cups rice cooked
• 1/8 cup soya sauce
• 2 eggs
• veggies- frozen
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons oil (Sesame if you have it)

Heat the oil put in the frozen veggies and garlic over medium heat. Beat the eggs.  Move the veggies to one side of the sauce pan and poor the egg to the other side.  Think scrambled eggs. Cook the eggs for a minute or two then mix in with the veggies. 

Add the Rice, soya sauce  Stir and cook for a couple minutes then remove from heat and serve.

Giant Meat Balls

These turned out pretty good.  I was thinking Meatloaf but wanted something different so meat balls it was.

• 1lb ground meat- I used a mix of ground pork and lean beef
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• bread crumbs- Italian Style
• 1/2 tsp Oregano
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 red onion chopped

 Preheat oven to 350F
YES I'm terrible at chopping onions.  No comments on the photos please.  It's easy- Beat the eggs then add wtih all remaining ingredients into a bowl. Mix with your hands.  Form into ball size- Golf ball will take 30 minutes to cook Tennis ball size that I did took closer to 45 minutes.

Place in oven- cook- Enjoy!