Chicken Teriyaki Dump Dinner

Nonstick cooking spray, for the baking dish
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 
3/4 cup teriyaki sauce 
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce 
2 tablespoons sesame oil 
2 teaspoons grated ginger 
3 cloves garlic, grated 
Kosher salt 
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced 
1 1/2 cups raw jasmine rice  
1 red onion, sliced 
1 medium bunch broccoli, cut into florets (about 2 1/2 cups) 
1 red bell pepper, sliced 

 

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick spray.
• Whisk together the chicken broth, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in a medium bowl until combined. Add the chicken and stir to coat. 
• Spread the rice evenly in the bottom of the prepared dish. Pour in the teriyaki mixture, scattering the chicken evenly. Scatter the onion, broccoli and bell pepper evenly over the top.  
• Cover with foil and bake until the vegetables have softened but are still vibrant, about 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the juices have thickened and the chicken is cooked through, about 10 minutes more. Let sit for 5 minutes to allow the rice to absorb more of the moisture. 

NOTES: 

• The method is good and simple.  I'll definitely make this again with (surprise) a few edits.
• Less teriyaki sauce.  Try 1/2 cup.
• I don't think the foil held in the moisture quite enough - my rice was still slightly crunchy after 25 minutes on the convection setting.  Try a little more broth and perhaps a casserole dish or dutch oven with a lid.
• Fewer onions and more broccoli
• Source - Food Network

Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

1 tablespoon melted butter
1⁄2 medium chopped onion
1⁄4 cup melted butter
1⁄4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups chicken stock
1⁄2 lb fresh broccoli (chopped into bite size pieces)
1 cup carrot, chopped
1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
crusty bread

• Sauté onion in butter. Set aside.
• Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the half & half.
• Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.
• Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes.
• Add salt and pepper and add cheese. Stir in nutmeg.
• Serve with crusty bread and Enjoy :).

NOTES:

• I'd consider steaming (or microwaving) the veggies a little next time.  
• I used processed cheese instead of cheddar.  Don't judge, it melts perfectly!
• Considering the cheese choice, I did not add any additional salt.

Cashew Chicken

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 45 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes

1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons dry sherry (or cooking wine, or omit)
2 teaspoons minced, peeled fresh ginger
3½ teaspoons cornstarch, divided
Coarse salt
½ cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2/3 cup unsalted cashews
2 green onions, white and green parts divided and thinly sliced

1. In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with the sherry, ginger, and 1½ teaspoons cornstarch; season with coarse salt. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar and 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Set aside.

3. In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add half of the chicken and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil. Add 1 teaspoon of oil to the skillet and cook the remaining chicken (reduce the heat if the chicken is over-browning). Transfer to the covered plate.

4. In the same skillet, add the remaining teaspoon of vegetable oil. Add the cashews, garlic, and green onion whites. Cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic begins to soften, about 30 seconds. Whisk the sauce again to combine and add to the skillet along with the chicken. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 30 seconds. Serve over rice or noodles and top with the green onion greens.
From Brown Eyed Baker

NOTES:

• I realized about half way through that I didn't have onions in any form.  (Would've been better with.)  
• Also, I wanted more volume so I added broccoli.  (Was good.)
• Also, I didn't have rice vinegar so I just used white vinegar.  It might make a difference, but this was good as well.
• My cashews were salted - it was fine.
• Thumbs-up all around!

Broccoli-Corn Casserole

1 (16 ounce) can creamed corn
10 ounces broccoli, cooked and drained
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup saltine cracker crumbs (12)
1 tbls. instant onion (or equivalent)
2 tbls. melted butter
pepper

Topping:
1 tbls. melted butter, mixed with
1/4 c cracker crumbs

Mix, add topping, bake in 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes.

Source: Pine to Prairie Cookbook

Lasagna Primavera

8 ounces Lasagna Noodles, cooked and drained
2 T Olive Oil
1 whole medium onion
2 cloves garlic
1 whole bell pepper, diced
8 ounces mushrooms, chopped
1 zucchini, cut up
1 carrot, grated or thinly sliced
1 stem of broccoli, cut into very small pieces
1 can diced tomatoes
½ cup white wine
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes to taste
1 (15oz) tub ricoota
1 egg
½ cup grated parmesan
1 pound mozzerella

Saute onions and garlic in oil for a minute. Add diced pepper, carrots, and broccoli and saute for another minute or so. Add squash and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes. Pour in wine, add salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes, and stir. Pour in tomatoes and liquid. Stir to combine and let simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in chopped parsley.

In a separate bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.

Spread a little of the vegetable/tomato sauce in a lasagna pan. Layer noodles, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, mozzarella, and about 1/3 of the vegetables. Repeat twice more, ending with vegetables. Sprinkle with Parmesan or mozzarella .

Bake at 350 degrees, covered in foil, for 20 minutes, then remove foil and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, until browning and bubbly. Allow to set up before serving.

Broccoli Apple Salad

A ingredients and motivation deprived version of this.

broccoli florets (and chopped stalks if you like)
1 garlic clove, smashed and chopped

scant 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup peanut butter

3 tablespoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon honey

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons hot water
2 small crisp apples, cut into bit-sized pieces (if you aren't going to use the apples immediately, let them sit in a bowl of water with the juice of 1/2 a lemon)
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or almonds

1/3 cup green onions

Stir together the green onions, a splash of olive oil and big pinch of salt in a large skillet over low heat. Stir every few minutes, browning slowly. Let them get dark brown (but not burn). Remove from skillet and onto a paper towel to cool in a single layer where they will crisp up a bit.

Make the dressing by sprinkling the salt over the clove of garlic. Smash the clove and chop, turning it into a paste. In a small bowl whisk the garlic paste with the peanut butter, lemon juice, honey and olive oil. Add the hot water and whisk until light and creamy.

Chop broccoli and apples into bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl gently toss the broccoli, apples, most of the scallions and nuts with a generous drizzle of the dressing. Garnish with the rest of the shallots and chives if you like.

Notes: Could use a little tweaking, but it was an interesting combination of flavors. The original dressing called for almond butter, which would probably be better. The dressing was asthetically challenged, but looked okay once it was tossed in. The crispy green onions were a yummy garnish.