Simply Sides 25 - Parmesan Green Beans

This is a simple side dish that has a lot of flavor. The prep is easy and the green beans cook quickly. It does require the green beans to be fresh, so make sure they are in season when making this.  Besides the green beans, all of the other items are pantry staples for me that I always have on hand. I also think this recipe would be good with broccoli or cauliflower, but you may have to roast them a little longer than you would the green beans.

Parmesan Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 12-16 oz package of fresh green beans, trimmed
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbs garlic salt (I use Lawry's)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425. Mix together egg, olive oil, parmesan, and garlic salt. Add green beans and toss well. Spread into a single layer on a foil lined baking sheet (tip: lining your baking sheet with foil is great for tons of recipes and saves you clean up time). Bake for 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Simply Sides 21 - Brussel Sprouts Gratin

I have been very adventurous with food in my 30's so far.  We never had brussel sprouts growing up in my parent's house.  So I was 34 before I even tried them!  I like them a lot, and am not sure what all the fuss is about.  They're just mini cabbages.  And I like cabbage!  Gruyere cheese was on sale this week at my local Aldi, as were brussel sprouts.  So I picked up both and got to work making this AMAZING side dish.  Crunchy, creamy, and just plain delish!  You must try this! Find the original recipe HERE.


Brussel Sprout Gratin

Ingredients:

• 16 oz brussel sprouts, trimmed
• salt and pepper
• olive oil
• 1 tbs butter
• 1 tbs flour
• 3/4 cup milk (I used 2%)
• 2 oz grated Gruyere (use white cheddar if Gruyere is not available or too pricey)
• a couple sprinkles of grated parmesan

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.
Toss brussel sprouts with a drizzle of olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Roast for 20 minutes.  Stir and then cook another 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt butter in pan.  Stir in flour and cook for 3-4 minutes until flour taste is cooked out.  Stir in milk, and a bit more salt and pepper.  Let thicken for a minute.  Stir in half the Gruyere and a sprinkle of parmesan.  Pour over top of brussel spouts.  Sprinkle remaining Gruyere and parmesan over top. Bake another ten minutes until brown and bubbly.  Enjoy!

Ritz Parmesan Chicken - Home Cooked Recipe 52

We all need more chicken recipes right?  I am constantly on the look out for recipes that contain ground beef and chicken, as they are the most affordable cuts of meat.  While old favorites can be comforting, quick, and easy to go to, I am always looking for something to spice up dinner.

This recipe reminds me of a spinoff of a dish my mom would make that involved pork chops, mayo, and bread crumbs.  It isn't the healthiest dish, but it sure is tasty and doesn't take much time or effort to prepare.  Pair it with a salad and yellow rice, and dinner is ready!

Ritz Parmesan Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup mayo (as always I use Hellmann's)
• 1 tbs cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed (I used the Butter Garlic flavor, use your favorite)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• Cooking spray

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.  Line baking sheet with foil, spray lightly with cooking spray.
Mix mayo, cajun spice, and lemon juice together.  Place chicken breasts in mayo mixture.
Mix together parmesan and cracker crumbs.  Dredge chicken in cracker mixture after fully coated in mayo mixture.  Place on greased baking sheet.  Lightly spray chicken with cooking spray.  Bake for 30 minutes.
Enjoy!

Simply Sides 2 - Lemon Parmesan Orzo

This week I wanted to bring you another side dish recipe for our new sublabel.  As I stated in the last post about side dishes, I think the sides to a meal are a crucial part of making your meal delicious, and special, and often side dishes can be used as a main meal.  This week the recipe is for Lemon Parmesan Orzo, and it is a pasta side that can brighten up your chicken or fish dinner.

Finished Orzo

Lemon Parmesan Orzo

Ingredients:
zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 cup grated parmesan
2 tbs butter
salt and pepper
3 cups broth (whatever variety you like, I used chicken broth, you can also use water)
1 1/2 cups orzo

Directions:

Orzo Toasting

Melt butter in the bottom of a saucepan.  Add in orzo and lightly saute until slightly toasted.  Add broth, bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15-20 minutes (make sure ALL broth is absorbed in to the pasta). Remove from heat, stir in salt and pepper, lemon, and parmesan.  You can serve this as a hot OR cold side dish.  Enjoy!

Baked Pasta - Home Cooked Recipe 37

Everyone needs an easy go-to weeknight meal right?  I know I certainly do.  I was browsing Pinterest (one of my favorite apps) and came across this quick and easy pasta bake that's a great meal.  A few ingredients, a few steps, and presto! Dinner on the table with little effort.

Pasta Bake

Ingredients:
1 box (12-16oz) your favorite pasta (I used bowties)
1/2 a jar of Alfredo sauce
1/2 a jar of your favorite tomato sauce
1/2 a package shredded mozzarella (4oz)

Parmesan, grated

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.
Cook your pasta according to package instructions, draining 1 minute shy of what the box recomends.  Meanwhile, mix together the two sauces in a baking dish - I find no need to do this in a separate bowl, mixing them together in the dish you'll be baking in works just fine.  Add drained pasta and mix well.  Add 1/2 the mozzarella, and mix well.  Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over the top, then sprinkle parmesan over the top to your liking (I like a lot!).  Bake for 30mins. 
Enjoy!

Spaghetti Carbonara - Home Cooked Recipe 33

Searching for new pasta recipes is something I do often.  I am a pasta junkie and always want to spice up my weekly meals.  I came across a recipe for pasta carbonara and decided to make my own version.  Below is the recipe.


Ingredients:

• 3 whole eggs
• 1/2 cup to 1 cup grated parmesan
• 1 lb thin spaghetti
• 1/2 lb bacon, diced
• 2 cups frozen sweet peas
• dash of cayenne
• 1 tbs garlic salt

Directions:
Boil spaghetti according to package directions.  While the pasta is cooking, fry up the bacon until it is crispy. Drain bacon on paper towels, and then add peas to pan with bacon drippings.  Saute peas for 5 mins, or until no longer frozen.  Add cayenne and garlic salt to peas, stir well.  In a large separate bowl, beat 3 eggs together.  Drain pasta, reserving a cup of the pasta water.  Slowly add pasta water to eggs, whisking constantly.  Add pasta, using tongs to make sure eggs coat pasta evenly.  Add peas to pasta, then bacon, again stirring well.  Next, add in 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese and mix well.  Plate pasta and garnish with more grated parmesan.
Enjoy!

Picture View - Parmesan Tilapia

Tilapia filets and prepared parmesan mixture

Filets on prepared baking pan

Parmesan topping on fish before it's final broil

Parmesan tilapia is ready

Parmesan Tilapia - Home Cooked Recipe 7

I had never eaten tilapia but it was on sale at our local Sam's Club.  We bought a package of 6 HUGE filets for only $13.  We easily could have fed 12 people!  We were browsing for tilapia recipes and found this great recipe for a creamy, cheesy tilapia that I doctored up to fit our tastes.  Below is the recipe!

Parmesan Tilapia

• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3 tbs mayonnaise
• 2 tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• black pepper to taste
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 2 pounds tilapia fillets

Preheat the broiler on the oven.  Line a baking pan with aluminum foil.   In a bowl, mix together everything but the tilapia.  Arrange your tilapia filets on the lined pan.  Place lemon slices on tilapia filets.  Broil for 3 minutes.  Remove lemon slices, set aside, turn your filets over, and place lemon slices over the filets again.  Broil another 3 minutes.  Remove lemon slices and cover tilapia filets with parmesan mixture.  Broil another 3 minutes and remove from oven.  Place onto plates and serve.  Enjoy!

Finished Parmesan Tilapia