FOOD
QUICK AND SIMPLE

Anybody who works or has a busy
life is always looking for fast,
simple, but fantastic dishes
for meal planning. Since I fit both
categories, I want to share some
of the recipes that are
favorites with my family.

HONEY PECAN CHICKEN


INGREDIENTS: Boned chicken brests, honey, pecans

The first step is to prepare the pecans.  They need to be
chopped or ground to small pieces (use processer for fine).
After you fix this dish and discover you like it, the second
time prepare extra pecans to store in a zip-lock freezer
bag to keep on hand which eliminates this first step the 
next time or two.

The second step is to prepare the chicken pieces. I wash
each defrosted piece and lay it on a paper towel.  Then I
pat all of the pieces dry.

The third step is to put honey in a small container and use
a brush to coat each piece of chicken with honey.  As you
coat with honey, roll each piece in the pecans to coat, and
place on a foil lined (saves on cleaning) cookie sheet.

The next step is to put the chicken in the middle of a
preheated 350 F. oven for about 20-30 minutes until
slightly brown.

The last step is to enjoy a very tasty meal.

CHEESE-BREADED ZUCHINNI FANS


INGREDIENTS:
      2 Tbs Parmesan cheese (grated)
      1 Tbs Fresh white bread crumbs (fine)
      6 Tbs Unsalted (sweet) Butter softened
      2 Tbs Fresh finely chopped Parsley
      1 1/2 Tsp Fresh finely chopped Tarragon
      Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper to taste
      4 Zucchini about 6 inches long

I use dried basil and parsley about 1-1 1/2 tsp 
each instead of the fresh.  This saves time.  I
also mix up extra crumbs and cheese to keep in a
ziploc bab in the freezer as well as the butter 
and herbs in a covered dish in the fridge for the
next time I cook the dish. This saves even more 
time the second, or third time. TIME IS IMPORTANT!

First preheat the oven to 400F. Place foil to cover a cookie sheet.

Then mix the butter and herbs in a small bowl (one that you can cover
for storage later if you are mixing extra).  

Next mix the fine bread crumbs and cheese in a ziploc bag.

To prepare each zucchini clean and trim but keep the stem and cut
into four or five thick lengthwise slices. Spread some of the butter
between the layers and press together slightly then separate into
a fan.  Place each zucchini into the foil lined pan.

Cook in over for about 20 minutes or until slightly tender.
Take them out and sprinkle with the crumb/cheese mixture.
Broil about 4 in. from heat for about 4 minutes or until they
turn slightly golden.

I found this recipe in a book from the school library called
The Creative Art of Garnishing by Yvette Stachowiak.
It has other great ideas for cooking and making things look great;
if you get a chance, I do recommend this book.

FRESH APPLE CAKE

This is my husband's all time favorite cake. It's what he gets and wants on his birthday even. It is a very old cake that is super easy to make. I use shortcuts to make it faster. I'll tell you about them after the reciept.
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 Cup Wesson Oil 1/2 tsp salt 1 Cup chopped nuts 2 Cups Sugar 1 tsp soda 3 Cups chopped apples 2 Eggs 1 tsp cinnamon 3 Cups Flour 1 tsp vanilla
Sift all dry ingredients together. Add oil, eggs, and vanilla, and mix well. Do not beat. Stir in apples. Then stir in nuts. Bake in greased and floured loaf or tube pan at 325 F. for 1 1/2 hours. Test for doneness with toothpick. Now for my special tips, first I use a spring form bunt pan. Then I spray it with Bakers Magic (I call it magic because it takes most of the work out of preparing the pan because it greases and flours just like magic). I don't peal the apples because that adds color and a little fiber to the nutritional value--and it is a very nutritional cake. I have even been known to chop carrots super fine and add a half cup or so--I learned to cook by the pinch and the this-and-that method. Food is an art and I like to try new things with old receipts. I hope you try this cake. I know you'll enjoy it!

PIZZA--PIZZA
AND MORE PIZZA

I have a bottomless pit in the house whose preference for food is pizza as long as it does not have the big "V" word on it --in other words a teenage son who dislikes vegetables with the greatest of passions. Because of this I will include a pizza at all times. The toppings will vary and WILL have vegies because the rest of the family likes them. The same crusts, sauses, and cheeses can be used with toppings of plain meats like pepperoni, hamburger, sausage, and ham without vegies. As always with pizza, only your immagination is the limit to your creativity. AND IT'S ALMOST ALWAYS SUCCESSFUL! The only thing is homemade pizza is not one of the fastest dishes to prepare. If you want fast order out or buy frozen. Bottomless pits aren't too picky about that!

FIRST COMES THE HOMEMADE CRUSTS


The fastest and simplest crust recipe I have found is called
Pat-a-Dough Crust from a small book titled 32 Zesty Pizzas
by Bev Bennett and Kim Upton. It makes a 10 inch crust and
only takes about 15 minutes to prepare.  The ingredients 
include 1 1/2 cup four, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, 
4 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons milk.  You 
sift dry ingredients together.  Beat oil and milk togeter and
pour into flour mix.  Then you get your hands into it to mix 
until damp and crumbly.  It doesn't stick together stretch
like regular dough.  You just press into bottom and sides of 
pizza pan to make it ready for use.  

SECOND COMES THE HOMEMADE SAUCES 

From the same book--highly reccommended by my pizza lovin'
Bottomless-Pit--comes the quickest home made pizza sauce.  
Even though I usually just use whatever spagetti sauce that
happens to be on the shelf, this recipe is great when you 
are not so rushed.  You saute 1-2 cloves pealed and minced 
garlic in 1 teaspoon olive oil until garlis is softened.
Add one can (8-10 ozs) tomato puree or sauce, 1/4 cup tomato
paste, 1.2 teaspoon salt (I usually don't add salt to anything,
but I do in this dish because it needs the extra zip for pizza.),
1 teaspoon dried basil (one of my favorites so I use twice that), 
2 teaspoons dried oregano, and some fresh ground black pepper. 
After stirring together, simmer covered over very low heat for 
15 minutes. 

FAVORITE TOPPINGS--JUST TOPPINGS!
Cheese--Usually whatever is on hand--Mostly mozzarella and
        Parmesan, but sometimes longhorn sometimes all three
Meats--The Bottomless-Pit doesn't think a pizza is a pizza
       unless it has pepperoni--sooo  we always have some.
       The man of the house likes sausage with extra sage,
       or his really favorite is canadian baccon.
       I sometimes have some sauteed hamburger (more made for
       another dish just so there will be some to toss on a
       pizza or something else!
Vegies--sliced tomatoes, of course, thinly sliced zuchinni,
        mushrooms (fresh are lightly sauteed), black olives,
        broccoli, onion, garlic, bell peppers (or sometimes,
        hot peppers--just about the only V-topping the
        Bottomless-Pit tollerates!

TRAINWRECK
THE ONE POT MEAL
FOR COOL DAYS

Brown 3-5 pounds of hamburger in a large pot (preferablly a lidded iron pot). Dice Rotel Tomatoes and toss them in the pot (after draining some of the grease off) if you choose. How many tomatoes? That depends on how much you like tomatoes. Next you need at least one large onion--sliced, cut into chunks, or chopped. Again that depends on your preference. Throw in 2 Anihime peppers sliced or chopped. You can use just bell peppers. You can also add 2-4 of those mean jalipino peppers or some other variety you like--sliced or chopped as you prefer of course. Then, unless you don't prefer, add 2 cans of Trappleys Pinto Beans with bacon (not the hot kind). All the time the pot simmers. It's ready whenever!
THIS IS A GREAT FEAST THAT LASTS AND LASTS IF YOU MAKE ENOUGH!

Use these links to find food on the Net.

M O R E T O

C O M E

If you know of some great food links, e-mail me back at Blue Sky's World.

WATCH FOR MORE FAVORITE DISHES-- My time on the net is limited to when my IRC Bottomless Pit and my Hooked-on-Civilization man-of-the-house are out of the house, asleep, or deep into a Movie on TV.