Monica's Munchies Arrrrrrrozzzzz Con Pollo! Hahahha

1 regular pkg.  Chicken Legs  (If you have extra large pot, you can upgrade to jumbo pkg. hahah!)      

1 jumbo  pkg.   Chicken Thighs

Rinse chicken and pat dry!  Season chicken with garlic salt and white pepper.  Heat heavy bottom (enamel type) pot adding extra virgin olive oil.   Brown chicken on both sides.  (Your not cooking it through just yet!!  Don't move it around, wait and then lift when it lifts easily on it's own.)  Remove chicken from pot and set aside. 

Add more extra virgin olive oil to pot, plus:

1 ea. purple and brown onion, chopped

5-8 garlic cloves, chopped

Saute (Keep it moving and pick up brown bits from the bottom of the pan! )

Add 3-4 cups Basmati rice to pot and brown for a few minutes.  Stirring often.

Once the rice is browned.....add 1/3 to 1/2  can El Pato Tomato sauce..very spicy and yummy. 

Cook into rice for 5 minutes.

Monica's Munchies Note: No El Pato on hand, chop a jalepeno or two, saute w/ the onion & garlic.

Chicken broth

Canned diced tomatoes

Frozen mixed Veges

Saffron 

                       Monica's Munchies Note: The goal is to make 2 cups of liquid per 1 cup rice.   

Measure liquid and canned diced tomatoes in a large measuring cup. 

Figure approx. 1 1/2 cups broth plus 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes per 1 cup rice.

Pour into pot over rice & stir. 

Add 5 ish  strands of saffron to liquid.  (Purchase at Cost Plus for pretty cheap)

Bring to just under a boil.  Taste for seasoning....add garlic salt and white pepper if needed

Add a cup of frozen mixed veggies, stir again.

Lower heat to just a simmer.

Add all chicken back to pot.  (No stirring) Cover! 

Cook for approx. 25 min's, or until chicken is cooked through and rice is done.  ,

Allowing it to stand  for 10 min's is a good idea, but not always possible because your mouth will be watering!  hahah!

Monica's Munchies Note:  Don't sweat it if  the chicken isn't cooked all the way, just nuke it for a minute or two! 

Yummy.

Enjoy <3

Monica's Munchies

Mum's Better Batch of Cookie Ideas!

7   Droppers of Vanilla Stevia
1   C. of Sugar
2   Eggs
1   Cup Room Temperature Butter


1/2 C. Soy Milk Creamer (Fresh and Easy)

4 oz. Applesauce (One tub)



2   C. of All Purpose Flour
3   C. of Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
3   Tsp. Baking Powder
1   Tsp. Salt

Cream together vanilla stevia, sugar, eggs and butter.  Mix in soy milk creamer and applesauce.

Mix together dry ingredients in another bowl.  (Sticky? Add a little bit more all purpose flour)

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients a little bit at a time. 

Roll out (dont forget to put down some flour first!) 1/4 to 1/2 in thick...

Spray cookie sheet with Pam

Bake at 400 degrees for approx. 8-10 mins. 

Note:  these cookies are like the sugar cookies from Albertsons,  very tender!

Beware, these are a little bit healthier, but don't go overboard eatin them!  hahah

Enjoy <3 Monica's Munchies

Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Chicken Lettuce Wrap Soup!

We just <3  Chicken Lettuce Wraps from P.F.Changs. 

So Jeff and I attended a Chinese Cooking Class at the Cooking Store, Mission Grove Center in order to learn how to make this yummy dish! 

That was alot of fun for us! 

Now I just do a very simple style of Chicken Lettuce Wraps that I know you alllllll can make also!! 

This recipe will feed 4 adults
(that is if you have really good eaters like Jeff and RJ!!! Otherwise you may be able to feed 6..hahaha <3 )

Ingredients:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh Chopped Garlic 
(Note:  I chop 6 whole heads of garlic in a chopper and place it in a container with some olive oil...then I store it in the fridge....that way it is always ready to use!) 
Granulated Onion
Garlic Salt and White Pepper
(note:  I buy whole white peppercorns from Sprouts and grind them in my pepper mill)
2 lbs. ground chicken  (Winco/ Fresh & Easy always carry this!)  
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
Hoisin Sauce

Condiment list to follow recipe!  

Heat olive oil in pan and add ground chicken.  Season with garlic, granulated onion, garlic salt and white pepper.  Sprinkle each one on top and mix in, then sprinkle a little bit more.  Brown, but do not over cook, you want meat to be tender....alll the while breaking it up.  (Note: in the cooking class we learned that to break meat up smaller, you could rub it inbetween your hands.) 

Once it is cooked, add some hoisin sauce from Trader Joes or the regular market.  Thin down  with some low sodium soy sauce.  Simmer for about 8-10 mins. on low.  Again, we don't want to overcook the meat.

Make some Brown Bastmati rice according to the instructions. 

Use whole romaine leaves cut in half.  (I buy the big bag from Costco and always have this on hand.)

Condiments to have on hand:
Toasted Sesame Seeds    (Sprinkle on rice and on meat in wrap)
Sliced Green Onions     (Sprinkle on rice and on meat in wrap)

Chopped Cilantro        (Sprinkle on rice and on meat in wrap)

Chopped Cashews         (Sprinkle on meat in wrap)

Shredded Purple Cabbage (Sprinkle on meat in wrap)

Shredded Napa Cabbage   (Sprinkle on meat in wrap)
Wonton Strips           (Sprinkle on meat in wrap)

Place meat, rice and condiments in romaine lettuce and enjoy! 

Sauce like PF's

1.  Low Sodium Soy Sauce       (Approx. 1/2 Cup)

2.  Prepared Chinese Mustard   (Approx. 2-4 teaspoons)

3.  Chinese Garlic Chili Sauce    (1 tsp. or more depending on how hot you want it!)

Mix the 3 of these together to make P F's sauce! Enjoy on brown rice or on lettuce wraps!

Chicken Lettuce Wrap Soup!

1 can low sodium Chicken Broth

1/2 -3/4 cups cooked brown rice (1-3 days old is fine)

Left over Chicken lettuce wrap chicken

Low Sodium Soy Sauce

Hoisin Sauce

Place chicken broth, left over chicken lettuce wrap meat, and brown rice in a bowl.  Add some extra hoisin sauce and low sodium soy sauce.  (Note: do this to taste, don't overdo or it will be too salty)  Nuke (haha microwave) for 5 mins. if cold from the start.  

Top with cilantro, sliced green onions!  Microwave and enjoy!

Monica's Munchies  <3 

P.S. if you have left over sauteed zuchinni or carrotts, that would be great in there too and don't forget to make a cup of hot green tea....use a little bit of blue agave to take away the slightly bitter taste!