Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Oh Baby! Turkey Farina Meatloaf (skip the breadcrumbs)

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Cindy Kerschner

Farina (Cream of Wheat) is a great substitute for breadcrumbs as a binding agent with ground meat or even vegetable burgers! It is high in iron and easy to digest, heck, its baby cereal! The Farina keeps the meat moist and doesn’t dry it out like breadcrumbs often do. The texture was also a nice surprise. I was expecting it might be grainy but the Farina absorbs just the right amount of mouisture. Give it a try!
Turkey Meatloaf
Active Time:
Total Time:
1 pound ground turkey
1/2 cup farina
1/4 cup diced onion
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 teaspoon seasoned salt or Creole seasoning
2 Tablespoons dried Parsley
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Place all ingredients together into bowl. Mix. Form loaf and place into loaf pan or baking dish. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and slice at 1/2-inch intervals into loaf. Replace foil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until meat is thoroughly cooked.

Posted in Cream of wheat, daily special, everyday, food, ground turkey, healthy, main dish, meatloaf, Uncategorized | Tagged cream of wheat, daily special, everyday, farina, ground turkey, meatloaf, turkey | 2 Comments

Oven Fried Chicken with Cheesy Orzo and Quinoa

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Cindy Kerschner

I love to “oven fry” chicken coating lightly in olive oil and season breadcrumbs with different spices! This orzo dish can be made with chicken or vegetable broth. The quinoa adds a little nutty taste and texture which keeps this delicious side dish from being mushy!

Oven Fried Chicken with Cheesy Orzo and Quinoa
Chicken
2 boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon dry ranch dressing mix like Good Seasons
1. Preheat oven to 350. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese and seasoning together, set aside. Coat chicken with oil then crumb mix.
2. Place chicken in baking dish and bake for 15 minutes, flip then bake for about an additional 15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165 and juices run clear.
Cheesy Orzo
1/2 cup dry orzo
1/4 cup quinoa
2 cups chicken or vegetable broth, divided
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1. In a medium saucepan, combine orzo with 1 1/2 cups broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring often until most of the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, set aside.
2. In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and 1/2 cup broth. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for about 15 minutes or until quinoa separates into spirals and most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Combine orzo, quinoa, cheese and parsley. Stir and serve.

Posted in daily special, everyday, fasy and easy, food, healthy, main dish, pasta, quinoa, side dish, vegetarian, What's For Dinner? | Tagged chicken, daily special, main dish, orzo, pasta, quinoa, recipe, side dish, vegetarian | 4 Comments

Cod with Shrimp Scampi

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Cindy Kerschner

Cod is one of the cheaper types of fish but it takes a little coaxing to bring out the flavor. I think shrimp makes everything (just about everything) taste better!
Cod with Shrimp Scampi
Moist flaky cod is topped with salad shrimp in a buttery garlic sauce.
1 pound cod filets (haddock or other favorite white fish)
1 cup cooked salad shrimp, thawed and drained
4 Tablespoons butter or margarine
4 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons minced garlic
3 Tablespoons white wine
1 Tablespoon seafood seasoning
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange cod pieces or filet in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with seafood seasoning.
2. Combine oil, butter, garlic and wine in a small sauté pan. Cook over medium heat about 2 minutes. Add shrimp and parsley. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes or until shrimp are heated through.
3. Pour shrimp mixture over cod. Cover with foil and bake until fish is no longer clear and easily flaked with a fork (about 20 minutes). Enjoy!
Pictured here with Parsley Potatoes.

Posted in daily special, everyday, fasy and easy, fish, Lent, main dish, quick and easy, seafood | Tagged cod, daily special, fish, Lent, main dish, scampi, seafood, shrimp | Comments Off

Acorn Squash with Italian Sausage Stuffing

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Cindy Kerschner

This recipe works as well with turkey or hot sausage. You pick!
Acorn squash with Sausage Stuffing
1 medium Acorn squash
1/2 lb. Loose Italian Sausage ( turkey, pork or hot)
1/2 cup celery, diced
1/4 cup onion, diced
1 Tablespoon oil
1 egg
2 cups dry bread cubes
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut Squash in half lengthwise, remove seeds and place cut side down into a glass casserole dish. Add about 1/2 inch of water. Place uncovered on the center rack and roast about 45 minutes or until squash shell feels soft to the touch (it indents a little but doesn’t break).
2. While squash is roasting, sauté sausage, celery, onion and oil over medium heat until sausage is no longer pink.
3. Place sausage mix and bread in bowl, mix, add egg, mix again and place in casserole dish. Place in oven with squash and allow stuffing to thoroughly heat. See those bubbles in the squash dish? It was boiling!
4 Remove squash and place cut side up onto plate. Fill cavity with stuffing. Serve extra stuffing on the side with a salad.