Mmm D'Licious: Teriyaki Pineapple Chicken

Are you as obsessed with Trader Joe's as I am? I started shopping there shortly after I got married because they have yummy frozen, super easy dinners for 2 (ish). We got married young, so before that it was mainly quesodillas, mac n cheese and turkey sandwiches.  I was new at cooking, so it was something of an introduction to cooking for me. Thanks Joe. I've come a long way in 5 1/2 years, and now I really enjoy cooking and even "inventing" my own dishes. By inventing I simply mean...cooking without a recipe :-)
{I also don't buy the frozen meals much anymore....its much tastier when you make the dish yourself...although, it can be nice in a pinch!}

I've been craving Teriyaki Chicken, so tonight, I made it. And it was good....although next time I think I'll marinade the chicken and have Sean BBQ them with the pineapple, onion and bell pepper on skewers.

Ingredients:

3 half chicken breasts
1 onion
1/2 red bell pepper
pineapple chunks
teriyaki sauce
rice

Chop and saute onion and bell pepper
Cut chicken into pieces
Add to veggies
Season with a little garlic powder
Pour teriyaki sauce over chicken and veggies
Cook until chicken is white throughout
Add pineapple chunks
Serve over rice {I use trader joes Organic Brown rice...its microwavable...rice in 4 minutes? yes please!}

The end. That's it. Super quick, super easy...and it tastes good too!

Mmm D'Licious: Basil Scramble & a Must-have Kitchen Gadget

What are you eating for breakfast these days? We are in healthy-post-baby-pre-summer (but-not-pre-baby-weight-yet) mode in our house!  We are cutting out sugar [re: dessert] for a month to detox a little and kick our fitness routines up a notch! Here is our favorite new breakfast of choice {sorry Ebelskivers}. Enter my love affair with Basil. mmmm.

Basil Scramble with fresh fruit!

Ingredients:

-6 eggs scrambled {I go for just the egg whites if its just for me- the boys get the whole kit-n-kaboodle}
-basil- to taste [or lots and lots because its just that good]
-lite shredded cheese
-turkey diced- i use reduced sodium turkey from Trader Joe's
-chunky salsa- I use Trader Joe's Chunky Salsa to save time but fresh salsa would be divine!

Scramble all together and presto! Basil Scramble. Top with salsa and avocado! Serve with fresh fruit!

optional add-ins:
-bell pepper
-spinach
-avocado (on top)

There is no salt needed for this recipe...it's so tasty my two year old THANKS me for making these "yummy eggs mommy!" Success.

Psst! Want to know why my strawberries are perfectly hulled? no annoying digging with the knife necessary! I give you my new favorite kitchen gadget:

Chef’n Strawberry Huller from Williams Sonoma. I love this thing! Just pinch, twist and pull and voila! You can hull a hundred strawberries in no time! This is amazing if you're like me and hated cutting off so much of the top of your strawberry just to get rid of the leaves! It's also perfect for summer nights with Strawberry Shortcake for dessert...well sans the shortcake for a while! haha. Get one. You'll love it- I promise!


linking up with Heather here

Mmm D' Licious: Chicken Curry

In an effort to add some variety to our dinner hour, I'm trying some new recipes! In this case, a delicious Chicken Curry over rice! Although, I have to be honest, this recipe comes from my mom's kitchen, so its not exactly "new" to me. However, this was my first at attempt at it. 

{Bell pepper and onion for the Curry sauce
& zucchini squash for our side dish}

Recipe: {this will feed about 6-8 hungry ppl...I only made a 1/2 recipe, and we ate it for 2 dinners and a lunch}
4 chicken breast halves
2 Tbs butter
1 Tbs oil
1 large red bell pepper
1 med. onion
16 oz sour cream (I used Knudsen's fat free)
2 cans Cream of Mushroom soup 
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 Tbs Yoshida 
2-4 Tbs Sherry ( I used Marsala instead)
2 tsp curry powder (into sauce) 
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
dash nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp chili powder
dash: pepper, Worcestershire's, garlic powder, paprika (1/4-1/2 tsp)


To cook chicken: cover in pan with broth, a little sherry, and garlic.
Bring to boil, then simmer till white (about 15 min.) Remove from pan, sprinkle with curry, garlic, and Lawry's seasoned salt. Dice.


Saute onion, bell pepper in butter & oil
Blend in curry powder
Add soup, seasonings, and sour cream
Add chicken.

I like to taste and add anything else I think it needs, although my palate is not super sophisticated, and I'm really still learning. I basically left this one as is, because I was afraid I would add the wrong thing and ruin it. 

I served it over Trader Joe's Organic Brown rice, which if you ever cook rice, this will save you tons of time and effort....it's microwavable! 5 min in the good 'ol micro, and you are good to go!

I forgot to take a picture the first night...hence the lack of side dishes accompanying the curry.

Curry is also one of those dishes that allows for all sorts of tasty toppings. I chose coconut shavings, cashew pieces, and raisins. YUM! It was so good, however, the first night I didn't think it was as good as my mom's. Magically, and this is no joke, the second day it was amazing! All the flavors had time to mesh together I guess...Sean and I both said it was better the second night! 

Enjoy!