Parmesan Garlic Orzo

I love easy side dishes and this one makes the top of my list!  It is not just easy, it is quick too.  This can be made in about 15 minutes and it is sure to please your whole family!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 Cups Orzo
• 3 Tablespoons of Butter
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
• 1/3 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 1 Chicken Bouillon Cube (this is optional, but it gives it a little more flavor

serves 4-6

Bring 3 cups of water and chicken bouillon cube to a boil.  Cook orzo 8-9 minutes (or according to package).  Drain orzo.  Add butter and garlic to pot.  Stir constantly while the butter melts.  Return the orzo to the pot and mix with the butter.  Add Parmesan cheese, stir, and salt and pepper to taste.  

Follow the Magical Moms on Facebook and Pinterest for weekly menu ideas, crafts, and Disney Magic.  

Better than Rice-a-Roni Broccoli Cheddar Rice

For many years I made rice from Rice-a-Roni packets with the seasonings included, I am not saying that I don't ever make them or that they don't serve a purpose but this recipe is better and doesn't have all the weird ingredients.  This rice dish is an excellent way to get the kiddos to eat some veggies.  Feel free to put more broccoli if you would like!  

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Orzo
• 1 Cup Rice
• 1 Cup Broccoli- Chopped Small
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Salt
• Pepper
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 2 Cups of Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter

In a sauce pan combine orzo, rice, and olive oil.  Toast rice over med-high heat for about 3 minutes.  Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.  When it starts to boil reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Add the broccoli, cover, and cook for additional 3 minutes.  This cooks the broccoli.  Add cheese and butter- stir.  Cover and let sit for a couple minutes while butter and cheese melt.  Stir and salt and pepper to taste.

I served this with Red Hot Chicken Kabobs

Follow the Magical Moms on Facebook and Pinterest for weekly menu ideas, crafts, and Disney Magic.  

1. 
   

Salsa Chicken

If you haven't noticed, we tend to make quite a lot of Mexican inspired dishes! We really love all of the flavors that are in Mexican food and it helps to change up the standard chicken recipes in our house. This dish is inspired by the Tufano Salsa Dip. I love the dip so much, I just had to figure out a way to make it into a main course! This is super easy and yummy!

Ingredients:

• Chicken Breasts
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 block cream Cheese
• 1 can of black beans and 1 can corn

Mix salsa, taco seasoning and soup together in crock pot and place chicken breasts on top of the mixture. Try to submerge the chicken or scoop some of the mixture on top of the chicken. Cook on low 4-5 hours or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Carefully remove the chicken breasts and add the cream cheese. Stir until melted and well blended. Add the corn and black beans. Return the chicken and cook another 20-30 minutes. 

We served with Brown Cilantro Rice from our Chipotle Barbacoa recipe, or you can serve in tortillas.


This recipe was featured on our Appetizing April Menu. Check out the entire April menu for a variety of dinner ideas!

Mediterranean Chicken Kabob Platter

This is a great healthy chicken recipe when you're looking for variety. As far as timing goes, I start soaking the rice first, then make the aioli and chicken marinade. I prepare the chicken kabobs and let sit in the fridge to marinate, and just chill the aioli. Then I start the rice and after rice has started to simmer, I start the chicken.

Mediterranean Rice Pilaf Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. butter
•  About 20 pieces of Spaghetti, broken into small pieces
•  2 cups Basmati rice
• 3 cups water (plus more for soaking rice)
•  Salt
•  2 Tbsp. toasted almonds
• Dash of cinnamon

Start of by washing your rice. If you don’t do this, you will get a very sticky rice. Place rice in a bowl of cold water and stir. Drain and continue to rinse with cold water. 

Refill the bowl with cold water and soak your rice for 15-30 minutes. In a large pan, melt butter and sauté the broken pieces of spaghetti until golden brown. Add the water and rice and cover with lid. Bring to a boil and stir once. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes (do not open lid again). Remove from heat, fluff with a fork and add salt, cinnamon and almonds.

Chicken Ingredients:

• 4 large skinless chicken breasts
• 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp coriander
• 3/4 tsp turmeric
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of cayenne
• Salt and black pepper

Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes. 

Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl and whisk together to form a paste. 

Toss chicken in the paste and marinade for at least 30 minutes. 

Place the chicken pieces on metal skewers and grill until chicken is 165 degrees. While the chicken is grilling, heat an empty large pot with lid on the stove. When you remove the chicken from the grill, place the skewers in the pot (removed from heat) and put on the lid. Leave the skewers in the pot for about 5 minutes. The steam that it creates makes the chicken super moist and perfect.

Garlic Aoili Sauce Recipe Ingredients

½ Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

      Dash lemon juice
1 clove of garlic, pressed with garlic press or crushed with mortar and pestle
½ tsp. sea salt
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

In a medium bowl whisk together all ingredients. Chill until ready to serve with chicken kabobs.

I also served this with Henderson Hummus.

Keep It Covered Chicken

I have a terrible habit of turning on the oven light for a peek, taking the lid off of the crock pot mid-day, and my worst habit is trying to sneak a taste!.  This recipe is designed to stick in the oven and not think about it until you pull it out to serve it.  Let's just say I am a work in progress....  I am not sure I will ever give up my bad habits.  My favorite part about this recipe is that I can place it in the oven as soon as the kids get home from school (3:00) and I can spend the next few hours with them instead of thinking about dinner.
Ingredients:

• 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 Can Cream of Celery Soup
• 1 Box Uncle Bens Long Grain Wild Rice Original Recipe
• 2-3 Boneless Chicken Breasts cut in half
• 1-2 soup cans of water

EASY EASY EASY!

Preheat oven to 350.  Combine the two cans of soup, one can of water, and the box of rice.  Pour into greased 9x13 baking dish.  Place chicken on top and cover with foil.  Bake at 350 degrees for 2 1/2 hours.  

This recipe was featured on our Appetizing April Menu. Check out the entire April menu for a variety of dinner ideas!

Creamy Corny Rice

This is a creamy rice dish that has just enough spice!  My family likes to scoop it up with tortilla chips, put in on their tacos or burritos, or just eat it with a fork!  

Ingredients:

• 1 Cup uncooked Long Grain Rice
• 14 ounces of Chicken Broth
• 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese (divided)
• 3/4 Cup Sour Cream
• 1 Cup Corn (frozen or canned)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1- 4 ounce can of diced green chili peppers
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (if you look closely at the picture my cilantro is in the shape of an ice cube.  I took advice from a friend and froze some left over herbs)

First combine rice and chicken broth is pot.  Bring to a rolling boil and then let it sit.  Be sure to let it sit for 20 minutes to absorb all of the liquid.  Next preheat the oven to 350.  Combine all ingredients in 1.5 quart baking then add in rice and top with remaining pepper jack cheese.  Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.  I have found that the baking time is less when I use can corn instead of frozen corn.  This is a great side dish to serve with any Mexican inspired dish.  I served mine with the Crispy Crunchy Oven Baked Tacos.  

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness.  Check out the entire menu and try out some of our other YUMMY recipes!

Honey I ate the Pork

Pork tenderloin is my all time favorite meat to cook. You can do just about anything with it. This recipe is simple and includes some other of my favorites- honey and butter! I like to serve with rice pilaf (see previous post with recipe for Better than Rice-a-Roni Rice Pilaf) and a salad.

Ingredients:

• - 1 lb. pork tenderloin
• -Cajun seasoning
• - 1/2 stick butter
• -2 tbsp. Honey

Directions:

1. Rub pork with Cajun seasoning at least 30 min before cooking.
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Melt butter in large, ovenproof pan. Add honey and heat over medium heat.
3. Brown pork in the honey/butter mixture for 5 minutes on each side.
4. Put ovenproof pan with the pork in the oven and cook for 20-30 minutes until pork is done.

It is so tender and juicy and just delicious. Yum!

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness.  Check out the entire menu and try out some of our other YUMMY recipes!

Better than Rice-a-Roni (and healthier) Rice Pilaf

I try to incorporate whole grains as much as possible in our house, and that means whole wheat pasta and brown rice. But I love the boxed rice flavors. So I experimented and came up with a great alternative to the preservative loaded box stuff. It's only half whole grain because I couldn't find whole wheat orzo, but it is made with brown rice instead of white, so it's a healthier alternative.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup brown rice
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped onion
- 2 cup chicken broth

Directions:

1. Heat oil in pan and add rice, orzo and onion.
2. Cook on medium heat until mixture is golden brown.
3. Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes or until tender.

Easy peaty and much better for you (especially if you have a  corn or yeast allergy- you can't use the boxed stuff).

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness and our 30 Days of Dinners June Menu. Make sure to check out all of the other great recipes on these menus!