Macaroni Monday- Comfort Food

This might be the easiest Macaroni Monday recipe ever, so I will spice it up with a few pics of John cooking fresh sardines.  

First, the macaroni!!  We are going super quick, easy, and comforting with Pastina!

While it cooked, I put frozen peas in the steamer basket. 

Topped with lots of butter and Parmesan Cheese?  Perfect!

To go with it, John made sardines.  

He fillets them and removes the head.

Then, he bakes them at 350* until they are done!

Does anyone know if I can use the head and bones in stock?  I thought I could, then, I thought I couldn’t because they are too oily… Now I have no idea!  Thoughts?

This post was shared on Fat Tuesday!

My Mom’s Contribution

Hi!  I know I said I wouldn’t be here this week, but my dad sent me a little recipe/photo courtesy of my mom.  Enjoy!


Orzo and Peas Recipe from Mom
Cook orzo according to the package directions.  
Add a big bag of frozen peas when orzo is done.  
Drain.
Mix in butter, salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese to taste. 

Simple Easy Dinner!




Thanks, Mom!

This post was featured on the Hearth and Soul Bloghop!

Teriyaki Salmon with Noodles

So, this recipe?  Kind of a fail.  Not a HUGE fail, like this or this… or this, but a fail nonetheless.  Part of the problem, I think, was the marinade.

You see, I was sort of following a recipe and it called for marinating salmon in teriyaki sauce with extra ginger and scallions.  I was happy because I wanted to finish up the teriyaki sauce we had since it had some ingredients I wasn’t crazy about. 

So, I threw the salmon on a dish and covered it with teriyaki marinade, some grated ginger, and some scallion-ish things.

Then, since I didn’t read the directions, I cooked it just like that.  I baked it.  In the oven.  With all the sauce.  

Then, I read the directions and found out that the marinade was supposed to turn into the sauce.  Oops.  Lesson learned?  Read the recipe and retain it before you begin. 

So, I had to use more of the teriyaki sauce to make the sauce itself.   I added ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, scallions, and some garlic to the teriyaki and brought it to a simmer.  

 Next, the yummy step!  I shredded up some cabbage and carrots and added it to the sauce with peas!

Yayyyy!!!!!!!  Hahaha, sorry I was just excited about something working!  Anyway, that deliciousness got mixed together with some macaroni.

Ehh.  It was okay.  The sauce was too thin even after I thickened it up with some corn starch.  

Mac N Cheese (with a little "helper!")

Rice Cooker Mac n Cheese was actually the last recipe I posted on Munching Madness.  Check out the new ending!!

First, I shredded up some cheese. 

Next, I put 3 cups macaroni and 3 cups chicken broth in the rice cooker and turned it on. 

Once it was cooked, I added in a box of frozen peas.

** Cool new addition alert **

I had some leftover Kibbeh (a Lebanese meatloaf type food made of meat and bulgur wheat) SOOOOOOooooooo I heat it up in the convection oven with LOTS of butter.  

Then, it went into the rice cooker!

The cheese that was shredded up before?  That got thrown in.  

I put the top on the rice cooker and let it all melt in.  Yumm!

It was kinda like a kick-butt version of Hamburger Helper.  At least, it is what I think Hamburger Helper is like.  I’ve never actually had it.

This post was featured on the Hearth and Soul Blogspot, Healthy Kids Meals at Creating Nirvana, The Pennywise Platter at the Nourishing Gourmet, and Real Food Wednesday with Kelly the Kitchen Kop!