Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup!

Soup brings back some funny memories of when my friends and I would try to make our own soup! Surprisingly enough when we made it, it turned out pretty good! Although, now,  I would probably think there was WAAAYYY too much salt haha! Here in the central coast of California the weather has gotten cold and cloudy. Last night I decided to make my own Chick Noodle Soup. I had it for lunch with my husband today! He said it would go well with a Grilled Cheese Sandwich! Here is how I made my own Chicken Noodle Soup.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1 or 2 cups of Egg Noodles.
2. About 1 tablespoon of Butter.
3. 1/2 or 1 cup of chopped Celery.
4. 1/2 or 1 cup of chopped Carrots.
5. 1/2 lb of cooked, and cut up Chicken Breasts.(I just cooked the chicken in a skillet)
6. 1/2 teaspoon of Basil.
7. 1/2 teaspoon of Oregano. 
8. Salt and Pepper to taste.
9. 4 cans (14.5 oz.) of Chicken Broth.
10. 4 cans (14.5 oz) of Vegetable Broth.

For the Chicken and Vegetable Broth I used Trader Joe's Organic kind. Both of them are 32oz. each and under 2 dollars. If you don't use it all, you can just stick them in the fridge until you need it. And, yes, my celery and carrots were also organic. I try to choose the healthier choice when I can.

DIRECTIONS:

    In a large pot over medium heat, put in your chopped celery and butter. Cook until tender.(5 minutes) Pour in chicken and vegetable broth and stir in chicken, carrots, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and noodles. Bring all this to a boil and put your heat on low and simmer for 20 minutes.

When I made this I just eyeballed the measurements. This should be pretty exact. You can always add more or less depending on how you like your soup.

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Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and Rice Casserole!

My grandma use to make this all the time! This brings back one specific memory from when I was little and I lived in New Mexico. One day is was just me and my dad at home. We were going to go on a bike ride with some neighbors but I got hurt, so we stayed home and he made me this. That's what I think of every time I make this.

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 cups of Rice. (you can use minute rice, wild rice..any kind you want)
2. 2 cans of Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup. (I use the 98% less fat kind)
3. 1 cup of Milk and 1 cup of Water. (These are my families measurements but I use 3/4 milk and 1/3 water because its too soupy if I do it the other way when it is just the two of us)
4. 3-4 Chicken Breasts, boneless.
5. A Casserole Dish or a 13x9 dish.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put the 2 cans of soup, milk, water, and 2 cups of rice into the dish and mix together well. (I use a whisk)
2. Put in your chicken. Place them to where it starts to be covered by the other ingredients.
3. Preheat your oven to 350. Cook for 30 minutes.

This is really good with steamed broccoli and melted cheese. We also steam Asparagus with it too at times. If you want to know how to steam fresh Asparagus Click--> HERE <--

TWITTER: @haleymarie1991

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Hibachi Dinner: Rice, Meat, Zucchini, and Soup.

Hibachi Dinner!

Yesterday, I made Steak and Shrimp Hibachi for Josh's birthday dinner! It still smells like a Hibachi restaurant in our apartment! haha! This actually pretty easy to make, but it is time consuming! I will show you how and what you need to make all that is part of this tasty dinner! I also made Miso soup. Most Hibachi restaurants I've been to give you the onion and mushroom soup; but the ones I have been to out here have given us Miso. For those who don't know what it is, it's a soup with tofu soup. That might sound gross, and I thought that at once, but its pretty good. So starting with the rice heres how you make a Hibachi Dinner.

Fried Rice!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 cups cooked Rice, cooled. (I used minute rice)
2. 1/2 cup of Onion, chopped in tiny, thin pieces.
3. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil.
4. 1/4 cup of frozen Peas.
5. 1/4 cup of frozen Carrots.
6. 1 Egg.
7. 2 tablespoons of Butter.
8. 2 tablespoons of Soy Sauce.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put your oil in a skillet with the heat on medium.
2. Put your peas, carrots, and onion in the skillet and sauté for about 5 minutes.
3. Move you vegetables to the side of the skillet and add you egg. Scramble with your cooking utensil.
4. Add your rice and butter, mix with vegetables and egg. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until butter is melted.
5. Add soy sauce and stir in.

EXTRAS FOR THE RICE:

    You can remove the rice from the skillet and put in a pan with a lid on it to keep it warm. The closer you get done with the rest of the food you can put the pan on the stove on low. Also, if you buy just one really large onion thats all you will need for then entire meal. For the rice 1/2 cup onion is usually only 1/4 of the extra large onion.

Zucchini! 

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 tablespoons of Vegetable Oil.
2. 1 medium Onion, chopped thinly.(or just use the rest of the extra large onion.)
3. 2 medium Zucchinis cut into thin strips. (i cut them in half, then the halves in halves.)
4. 2 tablespoons of Teriyaki Sauce. 
5. Black Pepper to taste.

DIRECTIONS:

     Warm the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions, and cook 5 minutes. Add zucchini, and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Stir in teriyaki sauce and soy sauce. Cook until zucchini are tender. Stir in ground pepper.

EXTRAS FOR ZUCCHINI:

     I cover them with lid so they get all the moisture needed and to not let the liquids spit all over the stove. Once they are tender you can just keep the heat on low until ready to eat. Also, you can add sesame seeds if you want to. I usually don't unless I have some around.

                                                                     

                                             Hibachi Meat!      

                                            you can do this with steak, chicken, and shrimp.

INGREDIENTS:

1. Chicken, Meat, Shrimp, or all of the above!
2. Soy Sauce.
3. Teriyaki Sauce.
4. 1 tablespoon of Olive Oil.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat your oil in a skillet on medium heat.
2. Cut your meat into 1 inch cubes. If you have shrimp, de-tail.
3. Put your meat in the skillet. Add the Soy Sauce and Teriyaki Sauce. Put enough to fill and small layer to fill the bottom of the skillet. Cook until done.

Miso Soup!  

I found this at Whole Foods. Before you think, "ew..vegan? Organic?.." haha! It was the probably the best I had. Plus I couldn't find it anywhere else. All you need was 8oz of hot water!

EXTRAS FOR THE MEAL:

You can use any kind of Soy and Teriyaki Sauce but I use a specific kinds. I've tried many types these two are the best:

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Spaghetti Sauce

Spaghetti Sauce!

Spaghetti is probably one of my favorite meals! When I was little I use to eat it if cold for breakfast!

Gross I know, haha! I use to even eat soup cold, right out of the can! Don't get me wrong, the store bought kind can be good, but homemade is so much better and better for you! This recipe you actually have to use your hands and squeeze the tomatoes! It's fun! haha!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 3 Medium, finely chopped Onions.
2. 8 cloves of, finely chopped Garlic. 
3. 3-4 tablespoons of Olive Oil.
4. 2 cans of 28oz. Whole Peeled Tomatoes.
5. 2 cans of 28oz. Tomato Sauce.
6. 1 can of 6oz. Tomato Paste.
7. 2 tablespoons of Parsley.
8. 4 tablespoons of Basil.
9. 4 tablespoons of Oregano.
10. 2 teaspoons of Salt.
11. 1/2 teaspoons of Pepper.

DIRECTIONS:

    Saute the onions in the oil until nicely browned. Add the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients. Reach into your pot and mash the Whole Peeled Tomatoes with your hand. (you can turn the heat down if needed, but its never that hot when I do so) Cook on low heat for 2-3 hours and stir occasionally. Cook the next day for 2 hours. (the reason for the two days is because all the ingredients mix and taste better if done this way. as my grandma use to say, "It tastes better once it's been married!")

EXTRAS:

   You can add ground beef or sausage to your sauce, but i usually cook that in a separate skillet and just add the sauce to it. Because, the meat will go bad before the sauce does if you just add it into the pot. You can also freeze it better if you just cook you meat when needed. Mushrooms taste great added in with the meat as well!! Also, if your not a big onion person you can always do 1 and 1/2 onions. I do sometimes.

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Award Winning Salsa Recipe

Salsa!

Just looking at this picture makes my mouth water! haha! This is not my award winning salsa, this is my mom's salsa! Its restaurant worthy people! Its so good, I'll even eat it with a spoon or drink it through a straw! You can blame that weird trait or quirk on my birth mom, who also would do the same! haha! Here is how to make it!

INGREDIENTS:this makes a huge bowl. For two people cut the measurements in half.

1. 4-6 fresh tomatoes, chopped.
2. 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes.(28 oz)
3. 1 onion, finely chopped.
4. 1 bunch of cilantro.
5. 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic.
6. 1 tablespoon of salt.
7. 2 tablespoons of lime juice.(fresh lime tastes best)
8. 1 can of green chillies or jalapeños. (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

     Pulse canned tomatoes about 2-3 seconds in a food processor, then put in a bowl. (longer, if you like smoother salsa) Pulse cilantro in food processor with some of the juice of the tomato juice, pulse until finely chopped. Add in the onion and garlic.(may need to chop up a little for the onion and garlic) Add the lime juice, salt, and chillies or jalapeños to the mix and stir.

This tastes better the second day after the ingredients mix and sit together.

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Chicken Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas 

I am from New Mexico. I have been raised on the BEST mexican food there is. The closest you will find to actual food in Mexico. I have had both. I like both. They do have their differences but who cares! As long as its spicy, am I right? haha! This is my mom's recipe, and hers will always be better, but I like to think mine is pretty close!

INGREDIENTS:

1. 2 tablespoons of Lime Juice
2. 1 teaspoon of Salt
3. 1 medium Onion, cut into small slices
4. 1 Green Bell Pepper
5. 2-3 Boneless Chicken Breasts, cut into 1 inch strips.
6. 1 tablespoon of oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. I put all the onion and meat in a bowl and then add the Lime Juice and salt into the bowl and mix it up while your skillet is heating. Put your skillet on medium. Then pour all the contents that's in the bowl into the skillet.
2. Cook for 10 minutes, stir every few minutes.
3. Add the green bell peppers the last two minutes.
4. Cook until the meat is done and the peppers are some what tender.

EXTRAS:

      Tortillas: You can just eat with cold tortillas, but I like to get a separate, smaller skillet and put it on 3, then heat the tortillas for 5-10 seconds on each side. You could just microwave them but it changes the texture of the tortilla. It becomes harder to eat, almost stretchy.

     NOTES: I used a 2 eye skillet the last time I made this and it seemed to work pretty well also.

                    You can also use steak, same directions.

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