Odds And Ends, Thrown Together Soup™

Did you ever have one of those days where you're not up to cooking. Today it happened to me.

This is an easy recipe that can be done quickly.

I've used canned chicken but this is also great with leftover chicken and turkey too.

2 - 3 cans (5 oz each) cooked chicken
1 small onion chopped
3/4 c fresh mushrooms
1 - 2 cloves garlic crushed and chopped
8 c. low sodium chicken broth
2 - 3 each: celery stalks, carrots chopped
Pinch each: salt, pepper, dried parsley
1 medium - large potato diced
1 - 1 1/4 c egg noodles (adjust amount)

Open cans of chicken and drain. Set aside.

Rinse and chop potato, celery, mushrooms and carrots.

Peel, rinse and chop onions, garlic.

In a soup pot combine: broth,  chicken, vegetables, salt, pepper,  herbs. Bring to a boil for 5 - 10 min. Lower heat to medium low and let simmer for 30 - 40 min. 

Add noodles about 10 - 15 min before serving. Continue cooking until noodles are done.

Serves 8.

Easy Chicken Parm. Yes, It Does Taste So Good™

This easy recipe is inspired by a Peyton Manning commercial.

  This recipe will make you the MVP of mealtime.

1 lb. boneless chicken breast or thighs
1 1/2 c. + 1 T. shredded Parmesan cheese
3/4 -  1 c. flour (adjust amount)
1/4 tsp. each : salt, pepper, dried parsley
1 tsp. each: granulated garlic, basil, oregano, divided (dried or fresh)
1 - 2 beaten eggs
Non stick cooking spray
2 - 4 c. prepared marinara sauce (adjust amount)
1 - 3 T.  olive oil

Preheat oven to 350’ F

Place chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap. 

Pound with a meat pounder until desired thinness.

Crack eggs in a bowl and combine with half the herbs and garlic and mix with a fork.

Dredge chicken on both sides with eggs.

In a plate combine flour, salt, pepper, 1 T. of Parmesan cheese, rest of garlic and herbs.

 Mix well with a fork. Dredge both sides of the chicken with flour mixture.

Preheat saute pan oven medium high heat. Lower heat to medium and add oil. 

 Fry chicken on 1 side for 5 - 7 min. Flip chicken over and cook for 5 - 7 min. more.

Spray non stick cooking spray on bottom of a baking sheet.

With a ladle pour some of the sauce in the bottom of pan. 

Arrange chicken in baking dish.

 Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle cheese over chicken.

Place pan in oven and bake for 30 - 60 min. or until done.

Serves 4.

Ball Game Beer Brats™

What goes better with watching a ball game than a sausage and beer. 

In honor of opening week, this is perfect for watching baseball or anytime. 

I've used a low alcohol beer but you can also use your favorite lager if desired. You can also use Italian sausage if desired.

1 package bratwurst

1/2 c chopped onions

1 - 2 cloves garlic 

3/4  - 1  1/4 c  lager beer (adjust amount needed)

Non stick cooking spray

Heat a skillet to medium high heat. Lower heat to medium.  Spray skillet with non stick cooking spray.

Add sausages, onions, garlic to skillet.  Add beer carefully so that it doesn't splash or spill over. Cook for 7 - 10 min on 1 side. Turn sausages over and cook on other side for 7 - 10 min more or until done. 

Serves 4 - 6. 

Salmon Cakes™

This is an easy healthy recipe for Lent or anytime. 

1 can  (15 oz ) wild caught salmon

1 - 2 eggs slightly beaten (adjust amount needed)

1/3 c diced onion

Lemon zest

1/8 - 1/4 tsp each: salt, pepper

1/4 tsp: fresh lemon juice

1 clove garlic crushed and diced

1 - 2 T oil 

Peel, rinse, cut onion and garlic. 

Zest and juice lemon. 

Open can of salmon and drain into a strainer. With clean hands pick out any bones and squeeze salmon dry if needed. Place salmon in a clean bowl.  Add onions, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice and zest. 

 Add egg and mix with a fork. 

With clean hands, form salmon mixture into 6 patties. 

Heat pan to medium high heat. Lower heat to medium and add oil.  Place patties in pan and cook for 3 - 5 min on one side. Flip patties over and cook on other side for an additional 3 - 5 min or until done. 

Serves 2