After becoming a wife, 2011 turned out to be a pretty good cooking year for me. It was kind of tough for me to get started. We rarely tend to actually have any food on hand, and I HATE going to the grocery store, so it always seemed like a huge job just to make a meal for two. Midway through last semester I started planning our menu for the whole week and making one store run on Monday, and that made a HUGE difference. I realized I don't really mind cooking as long as I'm prepared! Here are my top 5 favorite recipes from this year.
#5- Classic Chicken Enchiladas [Real Simple]
If you already have a favorite chicken enchilada recipe, I would probably stick to that. However, if you're like me and don't know anything about cooking but want something quick and easy, this one is a keeper. I made it for our small group and friends a few times, and it was always a huge success.
Ingredients:
Rotisserie chicken
1 & 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese
8 6-inch corn tortillas
2 & 1/2 cups (2 cans) canned enchilada sauce
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (optional)
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 400 F.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 1 cup of the Cheddar. Dividing evenly, roll up the chicken mixture in the tortillas and place seam-down in an 8-inch square baking dish.
3. Top with enchilada sauce and the remaining 1/2 cup of Cheddar.
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired. (I always forgot the cilantro, but it still turned out great!).
#4- Red Velvet Cake [Real Simple]
This is the only "grown-up" dessert I think I've made since we've been married, so I'm kind of proud of it. ;]
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pans
2 cups flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for pans
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 cup buttermilk
1 tub cream cheese frosting
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high until fluffy, 2 or 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, vinegar, and food coloring until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
3. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the buttermilk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix until just combined (do not overmix).
4. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool the cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.
5. Transfer one of the cooled cakes to a plate and spread with frosting. Top with the remaining cake and spread frosting over the top and sides. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
#3- Creamy Italian Chicken [Steph Cease]
This is a recipe one of my very best friends passed on to me when I used to live in her garage apartment a few years ago. I have made it many, many times, and it is always SOOOOOOO delicious! (One of our friends literally drank the leftover sauce once). I love it because it's so easy. Literally toss all the ingredients in a crock pot, give it a little stir, and done! :]
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
2 teaspoons butter
1 package Italian Seasonings dressing mix
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup (I use low-fat)
1 8 oz. package cream cheese (I use low-fat)
Directions:
Put chicken, butter, and dressing mix in your crock pot on high heat for 2 hours. Add the soup and cream cheese. Cook for 30 more minutes. Give it a stir and done!
#2- Spaghetti Carbonara [Stonewall Kitchen Favorites]
I made this recipe for the first time last week, and John has been begging me to make it ever since! A few of our friends have gotten to try it as well, and they've all asked me for the recipe (here you go, guys!).
Ingredients:
8 ounces thick-sliced pancetta or bacon (I always use bacon)
Salt
1 pound spaghetti or linguine
2 large organic eggs
1 & 3/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 & 1/2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
Directions:
1. Heat a large, heavy skillet over moderately low heat. Cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on paper towels, then coarsely chop.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until
al dente according to package directions, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain well in a colander.
3. In a food processor or blender, blend the basil until coarsely chopped. Slowly add the oil and process until the mixture is thick and chunky. Season with salt and pepper to taste. *[My food processor hasn't been working properly, so I've just been chopping up the basil and stirring it with a little oil].
4. In a large serving bowl, whisk the eggs, 1 & 1/4 cups of the Parmesan cheese, and the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bacon, hot pasta, basil mix, and toss.
#1- Banana Bread [Real Simple]
This has without a doubt been my most used recipe. I am super picky about my bananas-- seriously, if they have any brown spots, they gross me out. SO, this recipe has definitely come in handy for not letting all my brown bananas go to waste!
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 & 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350 F. Butter a loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the butter, bananas, granulated and light brown sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix until just combined (do not overmix).
3. Spread the butter in the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 60 minutes. Cool for 15 minutes.
What are some of your favorite (and easiest) recipes?
