Dinner

Dinner
Originally uploaded by paintedbooklady.

chicken, ham&cheese roll-ups with cous cous and peas

8 thin chicken cutlets)about 1 1/2lbs
course ground salt and pepper
2 tbs honey mustard
4 slices deli ham(about 4oz) halved lenghtwise
12 thin slices swiss cheese(about 4oz) halved lengthwise into 24 strips(you can also use other cheeses, whatever you like)
10 oz frozen peas
1tbs butter
3/4 c cous cous

Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place cutlets on a work surface and season with salt&pepper.

Spread cutlets with mustard; layer with 1 slice of ham and 2 strips of cheese. Starting at short end, roll up cutlets. Place seam side down on baking sheet. Top each cutlet with 1 piece of remaining cheese.; broil until browned and chicken is opaque throughout. 6-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, bring peas, butter, and 1 cup of water to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in cous cous. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and fluff with a fork. Serve with roll-ups.

From Martha Stewart

I wasn't sure that my kids would like the swiss but took a chance. This dinner was a giant hit with everyone, no leftovers. Best thing is that it is so simple. Half hour from start to table at the most. Yummy.

No picture for this one

Sloppy Joes

1TBS olive or canola oil
1 onion, peeled and chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped (optional, I do not use)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 cloves garli, crushed (I mince)
1 and 1/2lb lean ground beef, turkey or chicken
1 28oz can stewed tomatoes, diced
1/2C ketchup or half ketchup half bbq sauce (I do the mix)
2TBS cider vinegar
1TBS brown sugar
1TBS Worcestershire sauce
Few shots tabasco (I add this at the table)
salt and pepper
soft buns

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat and saute onion, celery, and red pepper until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and saute for about 20 seconds. Add meat and brown, breaking it up as you cook, for about 10 minutes or until no longer pink.

Add tomatoes, ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, Worcestershire, tabasco, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Split buns in half and spoon mixture on top. Serve. Make enough for 6.

This is a nice simple recipe that kids love. I find that after cooking for 30 minutes taking it off the heat and letting it sit for about 10 minutes is the best way to thicken. I like the addition of bbq sauce, better flavor and I use ground beef. Generally I serve it with steamed veggies. Our favorite are cauliflower, broccoli and carrots.

This recipe is from a book called Starting Out by Julie Van Rosendaal. Not only is it fun to look at the recipes are great whether you are a new cook or have been cooking for a long time. Nice simple recipes for busy days.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Originally uploaded by paintedbooklady.

This is a really easy one that I made up after having them at Rocket to Venus.

Use as many brussel spouts as you need. 3 people eat them in my house and it's about 2 lbs. We love them! Just toss with some high quality olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pop in a 400 degree oven and bake for about 40 minutes. You want them to brown a little.

So, so good.