Greek Chicken and Barley Salad

I found this in a magazine and thought it looked great. I have made a few recipes with barley but none have been blog worthy so far, glad I found one!-Sarah

Barley

3 cups chicken broth

1 cup uncooked pearl barley

• Bring broth to a boil, add barley. Cover and reduce heat, simmer 35 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and cool.

Dressing

3 T. olive oil

1 t. lemon zest

2 T. fresh lemon juice

1 T. minced fresh basil

1 t. red wine vinegar

1/2 t. kosher salt

2 garlic cloves, minced

• Whisk all together.

Salad

2 chicken breasts, cooked and diced

1 cup diced cucumber

1 cup grape tomato halves

1/2 cup diced yellow pepper

1 cup crumbled feta cheese

1/4 cup chopped kalamata olives

• Combine salad ingredient. Add cooled barely, toss with dressing and chill.

Mushrooms stuffed with Brie

This is another recipe from the Pioneer woman. I followed it exactly and it was amazing! Any mushroom lover would be thrilled to be served this yummy appetizer!-Sarah

3 T. butter

1 large package white button mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed

1 T. butter

4 T. minced garlic cloves

1/4 cup minced fresh parsley

4-5 green onions, sliced 

4 oz Brie cheese

• Melt butter in pan and toss in mushrooms, coating with butter. Sprinkle lightly with salt and saute 1 min. Remove and place in a pie plate, stem side up.
• Melt butter in same skillet and add next 3 ingredients. Toss and cook 1 minute and remove pan from heat.
• Remove brine from Brie and cut pieces to fit inside mushrooms, pressing cheese to fit. Spoon parsley mixture over mushrooms.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

No-Fry Fish Sticks

These are easy and delicious.  The panko bread crumbs give it the perfect crunch to make them seem like they are fried.  I mixed up mayonnaise and ketchup in equal portions and a couple spoonfuls of sweet pickle relish for a dip.  -Kristin

1 (16 oz.) package frozen tilapia fillets, defrosted
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. panko bread crumbs
1/4 c. canola oil
1 t. paprika
3/4 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

• Heat oven to 400 and lightly spray a 15x10 jelly roll pan with edges.
• Place eggs into a shallow bowl.
• In another shallow bowl combine bread crumbs, oil, paprika, salt and pepper.
• Cut the fish into about 3 inch by 1/2 inch thick sticks.
• Dip the fish into the eggs and then into the crumbs and place on prepared pan.
• Bake at 450 for 10 minutes.  Remove from oven, flip over and bake about 5-6 minutes more until other side is browned and fish is done.

 

Make Ahead Egg Sandwiches

These were such a hit with my family! I adapted this recipe from Pioneer Woman Cooks, very easy, very good!-Kristin

12 boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 c. mayonnaise
12 slices bacon, cooked and diced
1 T. Dijon mustard
1/2 t. garlic powder
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce

6 whole English muffins, split

• Mix together all the ingredients besides the English muffins :)
• Store in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.
• When ready to serve, spread mixture onto each half of the English muffin.
• Place under the broiler and heat for a couple minutes on low. Then switch to high and watch carefully until lightly browned.

Bow Tie Lasagna

This is a quick and easy meal to throw together that your family will really like. It is a good idea to keep these ingredients on hand for those nights when you do not have much time to put dinner together. -Kristin

1 pound ground chuck

16 oz. bow tie pasta
26 oz. spaghetti sauce
1 t. salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 t. Italian seasoning
1 c. mozzarella
1/2 c. sour cream

• Fry the ground beef. Drain and rinse.
• Cook the noodles according to directions.
• Mix all together and heat a bit more.
• Enjoy!!!
• Serve with Parmesan cheese if desired.

Coffee Toffee Bars

OH MY!!!!  These are just too good for words!  These bars are delicious and a bit chewy like toffee.  They are good warm but I think they are even better a bit chilled in the refrigerator.  YUM!  -Kristin

1 c. softened butter

1 c. brown sugar

1 t. almond extract

2 T. instant coffee granules

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

2 1/4-1/2 c. flour

1 c. chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cream together the butter and brown sugar.  
• Add in the extract, coffee granules, baking powder and the salt. 
• Add in the flour gradually until a stiff dough forms.
• Press dough into a 9x13 pan.
• Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes.
• Cool completely.  Store in the refrigerator.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

My family loves sweet potatoes, including these delicious pancakes.-Sarah

1 1/2 cups flour
1 T. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. cardamom
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cold mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
3 eggs, separated
3/4 cup chopped pecans

• Combine dry ingredients. Whisk together wet ingredients including egg yolks. Stir wet ingredients into dry.
• Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Fold egg whites into batter. Batter will be very thick, spoon onto greased pan and spread batter out into shape of pancake. Brown lightly and flip,cooking both side.