Pesto-Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken Breasts

From: This recipe came from one of those recipe cards that Safeway distributes in their store.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts
1/2 red pepper
olive oil
mozzarella cheese (shredded)
pesto sauce



How to:  

Cut a slit in the two chicken breasts so that you can stuff ingredients inside.  Cut the red pepper into strips and caramelize them (cook 'em) in olive oil in a skillet. Then stuff the inside of the chicken with pesto, mozzarella cheese, and red pepper.

Secure it closed at an angle with a couple of tooth picks, being sure the tooth picks are flush with the meat (so they don't keep the meat from being cooked well on all sides. Spread pesto on the outside of the chicken breasts. Heat oil in a skillet on medium heat.  Cook the chicken breasts on medium heat (slowly so they cook all the way through).  You can grill them too.

You can also microwave them for three minutes after cooking to be sure they are fully cooked inside, if you desire.  Be sure to remove toothpicks and top with more mozzarella if desired, before serving.

Hamburgers

From: My across-the-street neighbors growing up were our best friends.  Elizabeth and Danielle were like our other sisters and we spent more time during the summer in their back yard than our own, I think.  Their dad, Carl, was known for his hamburgers.  Man, he could make a mean hamburger!  Finally one time I paid attention to what he put in it.  You won't believe how good these are!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef
2 Tbsp your favorite barbecue sauce
1 Tbsp of ketchup
a generous pinch of salt
a generous pinch of sugar
two generous pinches of cinnamon
(all the measurements are general estimations... I just add it until it looks about right)

How to: 

Add all the ingredients in a bowl and knead well so that the seasonings are well mixed into the meat.  Form it into patties and grill it!  Yummmmmm.

Side Notes: 

I use this combination of spices for ground beef in all sorts of recipes like Stromboli.

Turkey Paninis

From: My friend, Rebecca, got this recipe from her sister-in-law, Jala. It's sinfully delicious!

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese, slightly softened (NOT fat free - it just doesn't taste the same)
1-2 tablespoons sundried tomatoes, chopped
1 clove of minced garlic or 1 tsp of garlic salt or garlic powder
Sundried tomato deli turkey – 1/8 pound/sandwich (I couldn't find this, so I just got regular ol' deli turkey.
High quality bread, such as ciabatta rolls or sourdough loaf

How To:

Combine the cream cheese and sundried tomatoes. Add the garlic and refrigerate it for up to a day to allow flavor to permeate. (Or don't. Both times I've made this recipe, I didn't plan ahead enough and it was still just as good.) Prior to making the paninis, soften at room temp or in the microwave for 20-30 seconds so it is spreadable.

Oil or butter the outsides of each piece of bread and spread the cream cheese mixture on the insides of each piece. Put the turkey inside and press on a grill pan. Another option is to toast the bread and then spread the cream cheese mixture on the insides and place the turkey slices in between. To heat the turkey slices, toss them in a skillet with a bit of butter for a minute or two until they begin to sear.

Side Notes:

The sandwiches freeze very well.
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 30-35 minutes

Shishkabobs

Came from:  This one is my husband's creation.  They are delicious!

Ingredients: 

chicken
onion
mango
pineapple
red pepper
oregano - 2 pinches
cumin - 2 pinches
garlic - 2 pinches
salt - 1 pinch
pepper - 1 pinch
(Actually, he doesn't measure... he had to wrack his brain when I asked him how much of each spice, so feel free to be creative.)

How to:

Cut chicken, onion, mango, pineapple, and red pepper into bite-size pieces. Stab them with the shishkabob stick and slide 'em down in the most colorful of patterns... Then fire up the grill.

In the mean time, put the spices into 1/4 cup of oil (olive oil sounds good, but the truth is, we're cheap when it comes to groceries, so we used vegetable oil).

Then slap 'em on the grill and while they cook, brush on the oil and spices mix.

When they look like this...


...eat 'em! Oh, yummm!!!