Euro Tray

One favorite no-cook meal in our house requires nothing more than some imaginative grocery shopping and a little cutting up of ingredients. Just put everything out on a tray, hand out small plates, and refill as necessary!

- a big loaf of ciabatta or other yummy bread (don't slice - just tear off hunks to self-serve)

- an avocado, some cucumbers, a tomato, several yummy cheeses (fresh mozzarella, sliced parmesan, sharp white cheddar) all cut into large-but-thin slices

- a bowl of hummus, another of kalamata olives

- a dish of extra virgin olive oil, liberally sprinkled with coarse salt, fresh-ground pepper, and whatever herbs you like

- thin-sliced deli salami

I love this meal because it's sooooo yummy, makes you feel like you're in a nice cafe instead of your kitchen, and everybody just takes what they want. No need to make sandwiches - just tear the bread, dip it in the oil or spread it with the hummus, grab a piece of cheese or meat or vegetable, and eat with your fingers!

Cream Cheese Chicken

Here's another in the not-at-all-healthy, but oh-so-easy-and-delicious category.

In the morning, as soon as you get up, take three (or more or less) thawed chicken breast or thigh pieces - skinless, but bone-in if at all possible (it really helps with the moisture and flavor) and put in a crock pot. Turn the cooker on the highest setting. Sprinkle with one entire packet italian dressing mix (just the dry powder. Not italian seasoning. Not italian dressing.) Cut up a whole packet of cream cheese or Neufchatel cheese (for a very slightly healthier entree) and distribute it between the chicken pieces. Pour anywhere from a cup to 2 1/2 cups white cooking wine on top of everything. Now, go shower and get ready for work. Right before you leave, stir the wine/cream cheese - it should have had a chance to soften a little. Your goal is just to break the cheese up further, but don't worry if nothing much changes. Turn the crockpot down to the lowest cooking setting and leave it on while you're at work.

When you get home, it will smell like all kinds of amazingness in your house. Go stir it. The chicken will be falling off the bones, and there will be crunchy-delicious golden crusty stuff on the edges of the crockpot where some of the seasoned cream cheese has overcooked a bit. Make some penne or angelhair or rotini, steam some broccoli or toss a salad, and you're all set!

I'd actually recommend making this for the first time while you're at home one day, so you can adjust the amounts/settings for your particular crockpot. Once you have it figured out, though, it's a great cook-while-you're-at-work meal.

Fettucine Alfredo

One of my all-time favorite recipes.  Very quick and easy to make, absolutely delicious, and not healthy at all.  But I still love it. :)

8 ounces uncooked fettucine
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
parsley

In large sauce pot, cook fettucine according to directions on package.  While fettucine is cooking, in two-quart saucepan, heat butter and whipping cream over low heat, stirring constantly until butter is melted.  Stir in cheese, salt and pepper.  Drain fettucine; return to sauce pot.  Pour sauce over warm fettucine; stir until fettucine is well coated.  Sprinkle with parsley.

Marinated Ranch Broiled Chicken

I made this tonight for the first time and I was really impressed.  It was easy to make first thing in the morning, then after marinating all day, it was nice to come home and just pop it in the oven.  I think we'll try the same recipe on the grill this summer--maybe even using the marinade on veggies, too??

2 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (1 oz) package dry Ranch-style dressing mix
2 Tbl olive oil
1 Tbl red wine vinegar (I read other reviews that said you could use any kind of vinegar, though)

Combine the dressing mix, oil and vinegar in a large, resealable plastic bag and mix together. Pound the chicken with a meat tenderizer, then add to bag, seal and shake to coat; work mixture into the meat. Marinate in refrigerator for at least one hour (the longer, the better).  Preheat oven to Broil/Grill.  Remove chicken from bag, discarding any remaining marinade, and broil for 10 to 15 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink inside.

Beef Nacho Casserole

This is one of our favorite recipes--I make it every couple of weeks and we never get sick of it.

1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa
1 (10 oz) can whole kernel corn, drained
3/4 cup sour cream or Miracle Whip
1 tsp chili powder
2 cups crushed tortilla chips (I prefer using Fritos)
2 cups shredded Colby cheese

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Brown the ground beef, then drain the grease. Remove from the heat, and stir the salsa, corn, mayo/sour cream and chili powder into the beef. In a two-quart casserole dish, layer the ground beef mixture, tortilla chips/Fritos and cheese twice, ending with cheese on top.