You are here: Home / Archives for Recipes

Super Easy Crockpot Dinners

September 13, 2012 By

If getting dinner on the table by 6 p.m. is a bit challenging after a long day, why not make use of that handy crockpot that’s been sitting on the shelf for ages? For a super simple weeknight supper, toss ingredients into your slow cooker, and just let it work its magic. When dinner time rolls around the food will be ready, and your home at NSY Portsmouth Homes will smell wonderful! Here a few recipes to get you started:

Cheesy Chicken
Place 6 boneless chicken breasts in a 4 quart crockpot. Pour a 10 oz. can of condensed cream of chicken soup and one 10 oz. can of condensed fiesta cheese soup over the chicken. Add 1/8 tsp. pepper and 2 tsp. chili powder, and stir to combine. Cover slow cooker and cook on low 6 to 8 hours, until chicken is tender and thoroughly cooked. Serve over rice or couscous. Makes 6 hearty servings.

The Easiest Pork Chops Ever
If you wish, you can brown the 4 pork chops a nonstick skillet 3 to 4 minutes on each side, and then place chops into a 4 quart crockpot. In a bowl, combine 1 envelope onion soup mix and one 10 oz. can ready to serve chicken broth, and stir until blended. Pour mixture over the pork chops. Cover slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours. Serve chops with veggies or salad and rice. This recipe makes 4 servings.

Potatoes & Italian Chicken
Place 4 diced potatoes on the bottom of the crockpot, then drizzle with 1/4 cup spicy Italian salad dressing. Top with 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts, and drizzle with another 1/4 cup of dressing and sprinkle with cracked pepper. Cover slow cooker and cook for 6-8 hours on low until potatoes are tender and chicken is thoroughly cooked. Makes 4 servings.

Filed Under: Better Living Tagged With: , , , ,

Great Chili Ideas

June 14, 2012 By

Chili is a fabulous one pot meal – and one of the most popular. Everyone has their own take on this dish, but if you're looking for some inspiration, here are some of the most popular regional variants, as well as some essential tips to keep in mind before you start cooking.

Chili, obviously, is named after the spicy peppers that give the dish its trademark heat. Mix-up your chilies. Using just one kind of pepper will make the dish taste one-dimensional. Combining jalapeno, Serrano, and other peppers in moderation will vastly improve the dish.

Meat is the core of a chili dish, and many regional styles such as Texas chili don’t use beans at all in the preparation of the meal. Before you add your meat to the pot, brown it in a pan first. That will help release essential flavors and keep the meat from getting too mushy. I prefer using roughly-cut strips of steak, but ground beef works fine. Ground turkey or chicken is good for a more heart-healthy dish.

That said, vegetarian chili is also increasingly popular. Rely on a variety of beans and sauteed vegetables like onions and mushrooms to create a hearty meal without the use of meat.

Always use fresh vegetables and good quality meats. Chili was originally invented as a way to disguise the flavors of substandard ingredients, but in the modern world there’s no reason to eat bad food. The better the ingredients, the better your pot of chili will be!

Taste the pot frequently as you’re cooking to adjust the consistency and spice blend. Keep in mind that heat will develop slowly as you cook it, so don’t add more peppers unless you’re sure that it’s not hot enough.

Enjoy!

Filed Under: Better Living Tagged With: , , , , ,

How to Make Pesto

February 2, 2012 By

Pesto is a popular, simple Italian sauce that packs a great deal of flavor. It requires only a few ingredients, and it's well worth your time and effort to make at home.

The most basic recipe for requires three main ingredients: (1) a green, (2) an oil, and (3) a nut. Each element adds a different slant to the flavor of the dish. The most traditional style of Italian pesto is made with basil, olive oil, and pine nuts and also Parmesan cheese. For truly authentic pesto, you’ll want to finely chop all of the ingredients by hand using a sharp knife or a mezzaluna, but it works well to use a food processor to coarsely grind all the ingredients and does not change the flavor.

Another great thing about pesto is that it can be used in so many ways. Toss it with pasta, such as spiral noodles, that will capture the sauce. It's also great as a marinade for chicken, toasted on Italian bread, or used as a condiment on sandwiches.

After you’ve mastered pesto the traditional way, feel free to experiment with a variety of ingredients. Cashews or walnuts can make a great replacement for expensive pine nuts, and using kale instead of basil can make a delicious healthy pesto.

Bon appetit!

Filed Under: Better Living Tagged With: , , , , , ,