Please Pin!! Thanks! Basil Balsamic Pork Chops take less than five minutes to prepare and cook in about the same amount of time on each side. The marinating process takes 2-12 hours depending on your schedule and when you prepare it. But – the process requires absolutely no attention from the cook. Unless you want to flip the bag over once or twice. An absolutely wonderful dish with only 15 – 20 minutes of hands on time! Note that there are two ways to choose from for preparation. Use a grill or use a broiler, whichever you prefer. Me – I go for the countertop grill pretty much year round. Wonderful served with rice or potato prepared just about any way, a nice crunchy salad or a cooked colorful veggie. A good marinade enhances the flavor, moisture and tenderness of the ... [Read More]
Main Dish
Easy Eggplant Parmesan
Eggplant Parmesan is a dish Wheels likes to order when we eat out. This Easy Eggplant Parmesan is a similar version. Actually, it came about when we were leaving a workout session a couple of days ago. During the summer, people bring in excess garden produce and leave it on a table by the elevator under a “help yourself” sign. We bring in tomatoes and leave with cucumbers usually. But this time, while we were waiting, a woman walked in and laid fresh picked eggplant in the basket. On impulse I picked up one just as the elevator door opened. Wheels said hopefully, “Eggplant Parmesan?” I ‘m still a sucker for those dark chocolate eyes – what can I say. The eggplant came home with us. Peel the eggplant – just like a potato. Slice into slices not quite half an inch thick. Ours ... [Read More]
Easy Ravioli and Sausage Lasagna
Cheesy, flavorful Baked Ravioli and Sausage Lasagna is busy day casserole that is deliciously filling. It tastes like you spent hours, layering and cooking – but you don’t. In fact, this recipe is almost stress free! It doesn’t come out in beautiful layers and is not particularly photogenic (as you can tell!). But that doesn’t matter because the littles and the bigs at your house will love it!!! It tastes great and hugs with full tummies are a winner every time. Use frozen ingredients and this will go together in a flash, ready to bake in about 5 minutes. Even the onions are chopped and frozen ahead of time. You can do this yourself, but I keep a package of frozen onions in the freezer for quick meals. The sausage crumbles were a first for me – great addition! They were ... [Read More]
Ginger Orange Chicken Baked Stir Fry
Tender baked chicken with a delicate orange ginger glaze and topped with flavorful stir fry sauce served atop healthy brown rice with colorful vegetables. Orange Ginger Chicken Baked Stir can be prepared ahead in about 2 minutes -- 3 minutes tops! Let it marinate all day (or longer if you want to make it the night before) in the refrigerator. Come home at night, take the marinated chicken out of the refrigerator, pull the frozen packages out of the freezer, fill the baking pans while the oven preheats. Microwave the rice and portion out premade salad while the chicken and veggies bake. Bingo! Complete dinner in twenty minutes. Fast, easy AND delicious! Stir fry vegetables are found in the frozen vegetable section. They are a mix of peppers, sugar snap peas, broccoli, ... [Read More]
Skillet Lasagna Mexicana
Skillet Lasagna Mexicana is so easy it almost makes itself. Well, not quite. But it is an all-ages approved dinner that goes from pantry to table in just about half an hour. Made from ingredients that are likely already in your pantry and refrigerator, it works wonderfully well on those days you walk in the door with a million things on your mind. Swoop the ingredients off the shelf, brown the meat and simmer in sauce, cook the pasta, add cheese – and there is one less things to worry about. A quick and delicious dinner is on the table. You'll have time to finish the rest of the list. Or free to play with the kids or even sit down and relax. Whatever fits :-) I keep browned ground beef in the freezer in bags of 2 cups each – about a pound of fresh meat. If I throw a package in ... [Read More]
Cheesy Ravioli and Italian Sausage Bake
Please Pin! Thanks!! Hearty and family friendly, Ravioli and Italian Sausage Bake, goes together in about 20 minutes. Slide it in the oven and do whatever else you need to do until it’s ready for the table an hour later. Add a vegetable salad, and a simple dessert – apple slices with peanut butter or sliced peaches and yogurt. Healthy and filling dinner that pleases kids and grownups alike. I always like to have a back up plan. Fresh garlic is not often in my pantry. Actually, come to think of it, I’ve never bought fresh garlic. I have a hard enough time keeping up with a small bag of fresh onions and a medium bag of potatoes before they start winding sprouts around the basket handle and then around the ankles of all who enter. I keep a jar of minced garlic in the fridge – ... [Read More]
