Thai Chicken Pizza

Here is a tasty twist on pizza!  If you have never had sweet Chili Sauce, it is a translucent, reddish-colored sauce that is sweet with a mild hot pepper flavor.  It is not very spicy, but flavorful.  This is what is used for the sauce on this pizza.   Enjoy :)

Thai Chicken Pizza

Serves 3-4

Ingredients:

1 Pre-Made Pizza Crust

1/3 Cup Sweet Chili Sauce*

1 and 1/2 Cups Mozzarella or Pizza Blend Cheese

1-2 Cups Chicken, Cooked and Cubed or Shredded

1/3 Cup Red Onion, Diced

1/3 Cup White Onion, Diced

1/3 Cup Green Onion, Sliced

1/2 Cup Chopped Peanuts

1 Tablespoon Cilantro

Instructions:

Step 1:  Prepare the crust as directed on the label.  If it needs to be pre-baked before adding the toppings, pre-bake it.  If not, move to Step 2.

Step 2: Assemble the Pizza!  Spread the Sweet Chile Sauce evenly over the crust - leave about 1/4 inch of naked crust on the edges. Sprinkle with cilantro. Top with 1 cup of the cheese.  Then, add the chicken and onions.  Next, sprinkle on the peanuts and top with remaining 1/2 cup of cheese.

Step 4:  Bake according to crust directions on the packaging.

Enjoy!

*Note - we prefer Mae Ploy Sweet Chilli Sauce

Easy Cucumber Salad

People always think salads need to be so complicated all the time.  They don't need to be - really!  Here is a quick and easy yet delicious salad that your whole family can enjoy.

Easy Cucumber Salad

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 Medium Cucumbers, peeled and sliced

1/2 Red Onion, cleaned and diced medium

2 Large Roma Tomatoes, cleaned and diced

2/3 Cup Italian Salad Dressing (such as Kraft or Newman's)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the cucumbers, red onion and tomatoes.  Add the salad dressing and gently stir until all is combined.  You can serve immediately or cover it and store in the fridge up to a day.

Magic Coconut Custard

I love this recipe from Land O Lakes.  It is so super easy to make!  The original recipe calls for you to place it in a pie pan, I like to make it in a square 9x9 pan . ..it's easier to cut and serve.  And because my family loves coconut, I add a bit of coconut extract to the batter as well.  You can view the original recipe here.  Below is my version.  I have also double this recipe before and baked in a 9x13 pan to serve a crowd on a holiday. 

Magic Coconut Custard

Serves 9

Ingredients:

2 Cups Half & Half

1 Cup Sweetened Flaked Coconut

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour

3 Tablespoons Butter, Melted

4 Large Eggs

1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla

1/2 Teaspoon Coconut Extract

Step 1:  Heat oven to 325°F. Grease and flour 9x9 inch square pan; set aside.

Step 2:  Place half & half in 5-cup blender container; add all remaining ingredients.  Cover and blend at medium speed 1-2 minutes or until well mixed.

Step 3:  Pour egg mixture into prepared pie pan.  Bake 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Step 5:  Serve warm or chilled.  Store in the refrigerator.

Note:  My family enjoys this topped with whipped cream.  Land O Lakes suggests serving it with fresh fruit and a sprinkle of nutmeg.  

Asian-Inspired Turkey Meatloaf

Here is a great recipe for a Asian-Inspired Turkey Meatloaf?  This loaf . . .so moist and delicious with ginger, garlic and onion.  The glaze on top offers a nice little bit of sweet-heat to compliment the meat.  I could easily make this weekly.  Everyone in my family loves this one.  We serve it with a side oriental cabbage slaw, pea pods or green beans.  

Asian-Inspired Turkey Meatloaf

Serves 6

Ingredients:

Loaf:

2 LBS Ground Turkey

4 Cloves of Garlic, Minced

4 Green Onions or Scallions - Cleaned and Sliced Thinly

1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger

3 Tablespoons Low-Sodium Soy Sauce

1 Teaspoon Sesame Oil

2 Large Eggs

1/2 Cup Breadcrumbs

Glaze:

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar

2 Tablespoons Ketchup

2 Tablespoons Chile Garlic Paste or Sriracha Sauce

1 Tablespoon Rice Wine Vinegar

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick spray.  Set aside.

Step 2:  Place the ground turkey in a large bowl along with the prepared green onions, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil, eggs and breadcrumbs.  Combine everything together thoroughly. 

Step 3:  Place the meat mixture onto the baking sheet and shape it into a loaf.  I usually go a little wider and thinner than a traditional loaf - but that is up to you!  

Step 4:  Bake the loaf for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, prepare the glaze.  In a small bowl stir together the brown sugar, ketchup, sriracha or chile garlic paste and rice vinegar.  

Step 5:  After the loaf has baked 30 minutes, remove it from the oven and spoon half of the glaze over the top. Bake for an additional 20 minutes. Add the remaining glaze and bake for another 10-15 minutes.  Check the temp at this point - when fully cooked, a meat thermometer placed in the center of the loaf should read 160 degrees Fahrenheit.  If it is not fully cooked yet - return to the oven for additional baking time.

Allow the loaf to rest for ten minutes before slicing.

FYI:  The glaze is great to toss with pea pods or green beans too.  I often make a double batch and reserve 1/2 for serving with the vegetables.

Basic Pudding Pie

Sometimes you just need something quick, simple and easy for a tasty dessert.  That's where your quick, easy and basic pudding pie comes in handy.  Only a view ingredients and viola!  And don't forget . . .Pi Day is on March 14th!

Basic Pudding Pie

Serves 8

Ingredients:

1 Pre-Made Graham Cracker Crust or Cookie Crust

1 Package Instant Pudding of Choice (the instant kind that serves 4) - I used a 3.4 oz package of Essential Everyday Instant Pistachio Pudding

1 (8) oz Container of Whipped Topping such as Cool Whip

1 and 3/4 Cup Milk

Step 1:  In a bowl, combine the pudding powder and milk.  Whisk or stir for 2 minutes until well combined.

Step 2:  Into the pudding, fold in half the container of whipped topping.

Step 3:  Pour into pie shell.  Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours before serving.  

Step 4:  Before serving, top the pie with the remaining whipped topping.  Cut and serve.

Classic Pea Salad

Classic Pea Salad - served as a simple dish with many dinners for years upon years.  I love the simplicity of a good side salad . . .sweet peas, sharp cheddar cheese, crisp red onion . .easy peasy (all puns intended).  Great with almost anything, but truthfully - I'm serving it with fish tonight!

Classic Pea Salad

Serves 4 as a Side Dish

Ingredients:
1 - 15 oz Can Peas - I prefer Le Sueur Sweet Peas

1/2 Cup Diced Red Onion

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon Milk
Salt & Pepper

Instructions:
Step 1:   In a medium sized bowl, combine the diced red onion, shredded cheese, milk and mayonnaise.  

Step 2:  Drain the peas really well and discard the juice.  Add peas to the bowl of onion/cheese.  Stir very gently so you do not mash the peas!  Season with salt and pepper to your desire.

Serve!  Store in the fridge if you have leftovers.

Optional:  Add a half cup of cooked, crumbled bacon for a real treat!

No Bake Peanut Butter Treats

This recipe is so simple, yummy and versatile.  It uses very few ingredients, requires no oven - but you can use a stove top or microwave.  If you love peanut butter or peanut butter candies - this recipe is for you!  Typically, I scoop this into balls and dip in chocolate like I would a truffle.  However, with Valentine's Day here - I thought I would use a heart shaped mold instead.  I also took some of the "dough" and rolled it out and then cut out hearts with cookie cutter and topped them with melted chocolate.  How you execute this is up to you!

No Bake Peanut Butter Treats

1/2 Cup Peanut Butter

1 Cup Powdered Sugar

3 Tablespoons Butter
1/2 Cup Chopped Peanuts (omit if using chunky peanut butter)

1 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Step 1:  In a microwavable bowl, add the butter and peanut butter.  Place in microwave for 30 seconds and stir.  If not completely melted, go in 30 second intervals - always stirring in between each to combine.  You do not need this to be a liquid - but just well combined.

Step 2:  Add crushed peanuts if using creamy peanut butter.  Also add powder sugar and stir all of it until well combined.

Step 3:  Execution is up to you!  

Option 1:  Peanut Butter Balls.  Using a tablespoon or a small scoop, portion out the dough and roll into balls and place onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Dip each ball into melted chocolate and place back onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper to let the chocolate set up.  To expedite, you can place the tray into the fridge to harden the chocolate.  Once harden, you can place into a container to store.

Option 2:  Peanut Butter Cut-Outs.  Gather the dough into a ball and place onto wax paper.  Roll out to a 1/2 thick.  Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter.  Place cut shapes onto a wax paper lined cookie sheet.  Drizzle or top with melted chocolate.  To expedite, you can place the tray into the fridge to harden the chocolate.  Once harden, you can place into a container to store.

Option 3:  Molded Chocolates.  Melt the chocolate.  Pour chocolate into mold cavities to cover the bottom.  Using a small food brush, cover the sides of the mold with chocolate.  Place mold in freezer for 10 minutes.  Then, pinch off some pb dough and fill each cavity with the dough, do not fill completely!  Leave a little space for the chocolate.  Once filled with pb dough, top with more chocolate - sealing each cavity.  Place back into freezer for 10 minutes to harden.  Remove from molds and store in container in a cool, dry place.