Easy Baked Chicken Tenderloins ~ Trader Joe's

When I want to make a simple and easy chicken dinner, I will often turn to frozen chicken breast tenderloins (chicken tenders) from Trader Joe's.  I try to always have a bag in my freezer, it just makes my life easier.  Nothing fancy about this meal. I just ~ put a layer of foil over my cast iron skillet (to make clean-up super quick); add the frozen tenders; spice them up; follow the baking directions on the back of the bag (you can bake them from frozen, so this is great for a last minute meal); and in about 20-25 minutes our chicken dinner is ready to put on the table.  Easy-peasy.

I almost always change up the type of seasonings/veggies/sauces I sprinkle/scatter/slather on the tenders before I pop them into the oven, so it never feels like the same meal twice.  For side dishes, I'll add whatever sounds good to me at the time, or I'll choose any leftovers that may be hanging around in the fridge that need using up.  I might serve the chicken with sides of ~ canned baked beans, steamed veggies, a whole grain salad, a green side salad, baked potato, mac 'n' cheese, etc.,  and we're good to go.  Sometimes it's nice to just go to an old favorite stand-by, you always know what you're gonna get...well, sorta.   :)  Minimum effort, maximum return.  Cool.

BBQ Glazed Sweet Apple Chicken Sausages with Veggies

I didn't have a clue for what to make for dinner the night I threw together this tasty meal.  So, I dug around the fridge and found a pack of my favorite Trader Joe's chicken sausages...but only the Sweet Apple flavor, not the Sun-Dried Tomato that I usually use.  Hmmm...  I'd never used that flavor for dinner before, only at breakfast since the Sweet Apple is a bit, well, sweet (in a maple/apple-flavored breakfast-y sort of way).  I decided to try them since they're fully-cooked and just need to be heated through.  I rummaged around a bit more and came up with the rest of the ingredients, for this meal-on-the-fly.

So, into my hot wok went some ~ EVOO, chopped apple, onions and bell peppers.   When they were getting nice and caramelized, I threw in the large chunks of sliced sausage, and I cooked it all together until the sausages started to get a nice, golden brown caramel color too.  Then I drizzled in a little of my favorite Bull's-Eye BBQ Sauce and gave it a good toss,  just until it was all nicely glazed with the sauce.  Then I plonked it on a plate with a variety of steamed veggies...and dinner was served.  Dinner on the table in about 15 minutes...not too bad for not having a mealtime game plan when I walked into the kitchen that night.  When you can find enough stuff to throw a meal together quick, forget about takeout.   :)

Oven Roasted Mahi-Mahi

I bought some frozen mahi-mahi at Trader Joe's recently.  It was a package full of chunks of 'ends & pieces'.  The price was about 1/3 less than the regular fillets, and the chunks were really quite big, so I bought a package.  I followed the directions they provided, oven roasting the fish from the frozen state.  I also added a layer of sliced white onions to the bottom of the pan.  The fish came out firm, with a very mild taste.  I served it with some of my neighbor's homegrown green beans and yellow mini heirloom tomatoes, simply cooked with some yellow squash and a side of rice.

I really enjoyed it, but my guys were not as impressed as I was.  I'll make the mahi-mahi chunks again, but next time I think I'll create a flavorful marinate for the fish and will also up the flavor with some more herbs/spices.  Or, maybe I'll even try making them as fish kabobs.  Why not?  The time for summertime BBQ'ing isn't over yet and I've got a bag of briquettes just begging to be used!  :)

Albacore Tuna Salad ~ making a lunchtime classic using broiled albacore tuna steaks

I recently bought some frozen albacore tuna steaks from Trader Joe's.  I love their frozen fish ~ it's reasonably priced, has great flavor/texture and they have a good selection.  The first time I cooked with it, I was paying attention to what I was doing and the fish turned out great.  The next time I made it, I got distracted and let it cook too long...not a good thing when you're cooking tuna!  Those tuna steaks turned out too well done and were a tad (OK, more than a tad) on the dry side.  We ate some of it, but about half of the tuna steaks went into the fridge. I'm too cheap to toss out anything, so I let it sit in the fridge until I could figure out what to do with it.

The next day, I decided to taste it again and...it was still too dry.  Drats!!   But, as I was chewing it, it now reminded me a lot of canned albacore tuna.  OK, I can work with that!  I chunked/shredded the remaining tuna, added some low fat Hellmann's Mayonnaise, a few spices, gave it all a good stir and we were in business!  I truly enjoyed my 'non-canned, fresh cooked'  Albacore Tuna Salad.  I think I may have just stumbled upon my new way of making tuna salad!  When prepared this way, it's so much 'meater', it's less salty and it's not soggy like canned tuna can sometimes be.  I love it when I can salvage a cooking faux pas and turn it into a success! 

Quick Chicken-Cilantro Wonton Soup ~ ready in minutes

Quick Chicken-Cilantro Wonton Soup ~ Using Trader Joe's Frozen Chicken-Cilantro Wontons makes creating this soup a pleasure!

The Chinese New Year is being celebrated today ~ Sunday, February 10th.  The year 2013, is the ~ Year of the Snake.  I thought I'd share my really quick and super easy version of the ever-popular Chinese Wonton Soup.   I use frozen wontons in my spin and call it ~ Quick Chicken-Cilantro Wonton Soup.  I love making it because it tastes so good, I can get it on the table in minutes and it makes me feel like I'm enjoying a meal in a Chinese restaurant.

Easy Homemade Snowman Pizza

I recently saw a photo of a pizza shaped like a snowman.  I thought it was too cute and decided to make my own version for a fun holiday meal.

Super easy to make,  I just used a premade herbed pizza dough from Trader Joe's and the usual pizza fixin's.

Then I shaped it like a snowman, decorated it like a veggie-dressed snowman and then baked it following the directions on the bag of dough.

Easy-Peasy!  I just love Snowmen ~ How about you?

Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage with Simmered Veggies

Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage with Simmered Veggies ~ I always keep a selection of sausages in my freezer, that way I always have a flavor that will suit my mood. 

When I want to make a quick dinner & am feeling a bit uninspired, I'll often make a pot of simmered veggies & throw in some Trader Joe's Chicken Sausages.  I always keep a few different flavored  sausages in my freezer, just for nights like this.  I place all my chopped veggies in a large pot - cover them with broth, some herbs/spices & sometimes a splash of wine.  If the sausages are frozen solid, I add them at the same time as the veggies - but if they're thawed, I'll add them when the veggies are cooked about 3/4's of the way through.  

In about half an hour, we're eating a meal that always hits the spot.  Sometimes we eat it as a 'soup' & fill the bowl with sausages, veggies & broth.  Other times we eat just the sausages & veggies, covered with Bisto gravy.  On those days, I'll usually chop up any leftovers, add it all back to the cooking broth & add some canned beans or any odds and ends in the fridge.  It makes for a nice pot of soup for the next day's lunch.  Waste not, want not.   :)

Rustic Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas made with Trader Joe's Corn & Wheat Tortillas ~ the taste & texture of these unique tortillas really make this dish special!

Trader Joe's has a really wonderful tortilla that is made with a combo of corn and wheat.  It's thick, slightly chewy and makes for a wonderful, rustic textuted enchilada.  I simply followed the directions on the back of the green enchilada sauce can & came up with a fantastic dinner that we all enjoyed.  I added some traditional Mexican sides & we all dined well.  I'll be making this enjoyable meal again, with these unique tortillas, every time I get the craving for enchiladas...or quesadillas, or soft tacos, or...  :)

Cashew Chicken & Mushroom Stir Fry with Wontons

Cashew Chicken & Mushroom Stir Fry with Trader Joe's Wontons ~ When I want to make a quick dinner & feel like jazzing it up a bit, I'll often cook a stir fry & serve it with one of the many varieties of Trader Joe's frozen Asian dumplings.  Nice & simple, I like that.  :)   I'm really fond of stir fry ~ it's such a great way to use up veggies that need to be eaten, as well as any odds 'n' ends lurking in the fridge & it looks great on a plate! 

TJ's Chicken Gyoza Potstickers are another favorite for adding to a stir fry dinner...or as a snack...or as a quick meal...  :)

 
For this meal, I added TJ's Chicken & Cilantro Mini Wontons  to the plate. TJ makes the best!  Their frozen dumplings make a wonderful side dish ~ they cook in about 5 minutes & taste great!  I'll often serve a stir fry with rice or, if I'm going for something a bit more low carb, I'll serve it over cabbage sauteed in a little sesame oil & Braggs (or soy sauce).  Purple cabbage makes for a really pretty presentation, it's my favorite cabbage to use.   I just love a colorful dinner, don't you?  :)

Guiltless Patriotic Fat Free Brownie Supreme with fresh Raspberries & Blueberries ~ A Simple Fourth of July Dessert Idea

Guiltless Patriotic Fat Free Brownie Supreme with fresh Raspberries & Blueberries ~ This is such an indulgent tasting dessert that is actually a snap to make & exceptionally low in fat, make that FAT FREE ~ thanks to Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Fat Free Brownie Mix & Fat Free Cool Whip.

The Fourth of July is just around the corner & I'm playing around with different dessert ideas to celebrate this most patriotic of holidays.  I know Memorial Day is the traditional 'unofficial/official' kick-off for summer, but to me, July 4th is when summer really kicks it into high gear.  The sun is brighter, the days are longer, the nights are hotter & the parties are non-stop,

Here is one of the dessert ideas that I've come up with so far ~ Guiltless Patriotic Fat Free Brownie Supreme with fresh Raspberries & Blueberries.   It's a sinfully good Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Fat Free Chocolate Brownie, hiding beneath a layer of Fat Free Cool Whip & topped with colorful, fresh berries...& did I already mention it's really, really low fat, like FAT FREE?  Almost too good to be true ~ but it is!  I just love it when you can find ingredients that let you create a dessert that's so easy to make, as well as so elegant & festive, too!

Since July 4th falls mid-week this year, our town's grand fireworks display, shot off over the lake, will be held on Sunday, July 1st ~ but everyone will be coming to the lake & hanging around town starting on Friday, June 29th.  That makes for a really long, extended weekend for celebrating the 4th.  I decided I better come up with a few desserts to keep my family & friends happy, that way every day leading up to the Fourth of July will be special, too.   Enjoy!

Guiltless Patriotic Fat Free Brownie Supreme with fresh Raspberries & Blueberries 

• prepared brownies, either individual microwaved brownies using Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Fat Free Brownie Mix    OR    a full batch of your favorite brownies, store bought or home baked, cut into squares
• fresh blueberries
• fresh raspberries
• tub of Fat Free Cool Whip

Place a brownie ((either still warm or cooled, but we like it best still warm)) in the dessert bowl or pretty glass of your choice.

Layer it with a generous mound of Fat Free Cool Whip, then top it all with fresh blueberries & raspberries.

The dessert can be made ahead of time & kept in the fridge until ready to serve, if you want it chilled ~ OR ~ assemble it at the last minute if space in the fridge is at a premium or you like to eat your brownie warm, like we do.  :)

Let's hear it for the Good Ol' Red, White & Blue!

Salmon ~ a perfectly healthy meal for Fish Friday

We eat fish at least once a week, usually salmon.  I buy the most awesome frozen salmon over at Trader Joe's ~ it's really flavorful, it's a great looking cut & the price for the quality is not bad at all.  They carry a HUGE array of frozen fish to choose from & I have enjoyed every type of fish I have ever purchased there.  If you are lucky enough to have a store near you, I highly recommend you go & check them out!

Most nights, I prepare our fish pretty simply.  Roy's favorite way to have his salmon is to have it sprinkled with a spice seasoning blend & then pan fried, in a little medium-hot oil.  That gives the salmon a crisp exterior crust & a meaty interior. Sometimes I'll drizzle a little maple syrup or teriyaki glaze over the salmon, just before it's done to give the fish a different flavor spin.  I also enjoy making a poached salmon, using a little white wine & some veggies for flavor.  I sometimes serve the salmon, either hot or cold, over a bed of crisp garden salad. 

Salmon really is a versatile fish & lends itself to just about any recipe presentation you can throw at it.  I've even used salmon in fish tacos to great success...

These are some of my current favorite spices to use when cooking my salmon.  The Smokehouse Maple is outstanding!!  We just love the sweet, 'bacony' flavor it gives the salmon...

Cooking fish is easy, about six minutes per inch (3 minutes per side) is all the time it takes to make a great meal.  You need to make sure of the thickens of the fish before you start cooking, that way you won't overcook it.  Sometimes a filet is thinner at one end, if so I will tuck under the thinner part of the filet to make sure it's all more uniform in size.

When I cook fish for dinner, I make sure all the side dishes & salad/soup are ready to go.  I also have the table set before I start cooking the fish.  That way I know I am just about six minutes away from eating a great meal when I put the fish on.  :)  I hope these photos inspire you to try making some salmon tonight!

Wilted Kale with Sausage & Walnuts

Wilted Kale with Sausage & Walnuts

I love kale & always enjoy cooking one of my favorite greens in different ways.  A few months ago I watched Emeril make a great looking wilted kale recipe.  Oooo...I was inspired to go right into the kitchen & I made it for lunch.  It was very tasty & it's been in my kale recipe rotation ever since.  I changed up his recipe to suit my cooking style ~ less oil & butter, regular toasted walnuts instead of walnut butter & I added sliced Trader Joe's Sun-dried Tomato & Basil Chicken Sausages ~ because everything tastes better with those sausages.  The way I make, it becomes a quick & simple meal ~ perfect for a light lunch or dinner.   Enjoy! 

Wilted Kale with Sausage & Walnuts

serves 2~3

2 tblsp         olive oil
1 bunch       kale ~ ribs removed & cut into bite sized pieces
2 links         Trader Joe's Sun-dried Tomato & Basil Chicken Sausage, sliced
                    (they're precooked, just heat & serve)

1 tblsp         butter

1/2 cup        chopped, toasted walnuts
1 tblsp         honey

~                   salt & pepper, to taste

1)   heat olive oil in large, non stick, saute pan over medium high heat, when
       hot, add kale & sliced sausage ~ cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until kale
       is slightly wilted

2)   add butter, honey & walnuts, toss all together & cook for another
       2 to 3 minutes

3)   salt & pepper, to taste ~ serve immediately

Trader Joe's 17 Bean & Barley Soup with Sausage ~ Where have you bean all my life...

Trader Joe's ~ 17 Bean & Barley Soup and Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Sausage

It is freezing cold outside today.  Literally.  It's a perfect day for making some soup.   If you are lucky enough to have a Trader Joe's near you, go get this 17 Bean & Barley Soup Mix ~ a big, colorful bag of dried, mixed beans.  You gotta try this soup! 
 
It certainly is tasty enough to be eaten as just a bean soup....but, why stop at just beans when you can add some tasty, healthy sausage, too?  There isn't much I don't love from TJ's, but I think their Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Sausage is my favorite item.  It's great in all sorts of meals. Actually, all of their chicken sausages are great.  They have many flavors to choose from, & at about 6 grams of fat each, what's not to love?

I just followed the recipe on the back of the bag, but here is a link for the 17 Bean & Barley Soup recipe. If you don't have a Trader Joe's close by, never fear, just look for one of the mixed bag'o'beans from your grocery store & use that. The more beans it has in it, the merrier!

I'm so glad I tried this bean soup mix, it makes a WONDERFUL pot of soup!  If you are feeling really ambitious, make some corn bread to go with it.  Hmmm, here is another avenue to explore...if you added some okra & more meats/seafood, it would become a fabulous gumbo.  Must remember to try that next time...