Delicious Healthy and Fast...

Hi everyone! I took some time after Mother's Day and my Birthday to chill out and just come to terms with everything...well, I'm back! Did you miss me?

This is such an easy and delicious dinner...

-Pimenton Chicken (Pimenton is Smoked Spanish Paprika...now available in markets...there are different brands), if you can't find it, just use the best paprika you can get.

-Smashed Potatoes...crispy and yummy

- Not Yo Mama's Creamed Spinach

3 different cooking methods used in this meal so you can do all three together.

Chicken

Thin sliced boneless skinless Chicken Breasts (as many as you need)

Canola Oil

Kosher Salt

Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Smoked Spanish Paprika "Pimenton"

Heat up grill to 400 degrees

Brush Breasts with Oil

Season both sides with Salt, Pepper, & Paprika

Place on direct heat and cook 3 minutes on each side

Smashed Potatoes

Small Yukon Golds or Small Reds (as many as you need)

1 32oz Carton Chicken Broth

Water

Olive Oil Spray

Kosher Salt

Fresh Ground Black Pepper

Granulated Garlic

Put the Potatoes in a pot

Pour the entire container of Broth on the tators

If the broth does not cover the tators add water to cover

Put lid on and bring to a boil

Once boiling take lid off and let simmer till fork tender

Drain and place on baking sheet sprayed with Olive Oil Spray

Pre heat oven to 450

Let Cool

Smash each potato with the palm of your hand or back of a wooden spoon ( see pic)

Spray with Olive Oil and then season with salt, Pepper, & Garlic

Put in hot oven and bake till brown and very crispy about 35 minutes

Not Yo Mama's Creamed Spinach

2 10oz Boxes of frozen Chopped Spinach ( Microwave according to Package and THOROUGHLY SQUEEZE the water out. I put it in a clean kitchen towel to squeeze it out.

1/4 Cup of Soft Goat Cheese

1 Tsp Kosher Salt

1/2 Tsp Fresh Ground Pepper

Pinch Ground Nutmeg

While Spinach is still warm stir in Goat Cheese, Salt, Pepper, and Nutmeg till well blended.

Warm it in Microwave before serving.

Winner Dinner!

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Readers,
This is an especially hard holiday...
However, we need to celebrate our wonderful Moms...
We need to celebrate the Moms that we are...
We need to celebrate the Moms that our Daughters will be...
What would our world be without great Moms?
Cherish the memories and all the moments...
I Love you & will always love you Mommy!

It Is "BARK" After All! A Chocolate Treat for Moms! Only 3 Ingredients!

Gidget just came out of the pool....How cute is she!?

Over the top deliciousness!

My Baby Alexis and one of her many hair colors! She was my Sous Chef on this one!

Tools of the Trade...Silicone Mat, Offset Spatula....Don't Have 'em? Don't want to buy 'em? Don't worry....just use wax paper or parchment paper...and a knife!

Semi Sweet Chocolate "Melty" and ready for topping.

Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips.

Fruit, Nuts, & White Chocolate Chips....
How yummy does this look? This is always a hit....The only picture I forgot to take is of the finished product. So sorry, but it's easy, you just break it randomly into chards and display it on a plate.

BARK:

2 Cups Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips

2 Cups Dried Fruit and Nut Mix

1 Cup White Chocolate Chips

Ok, that was easy!

Put the Chocolate Chips in a Microwave safe medium or large size bowl

In a separate bowl mix up the Fruit,Nuts, & White Chocolate Chips and set aside.

Cook on high for 1 minute

Stir...put it back for 30 seconds stir again...the chips should start melting into one another...you may have to put them in for another 30 seconds...DO NOT OVER COOK THEM! If they are over cooked, they will burn & you will have screwed up badly and have to start over! I know you can do it! There will still be some chips intact, that's ok, keep stirring they will melt.
Then you will spread the Melted Chocolate evenly over your baking sheet with your non-stick vehicle of choice.

Spread the Fruit, Nuts, & White Chocolate Chips on the warm Semi Sweet Melted Chips as evenly as you can...

Press the topping down gently...don't worry if some topping loosens...JUST EAT IT! HA!

Put it in the Freezer uncovered for an hour to set.

Take it out, peel off the non stick and break it up like brittle....

Enjoy!

Try a Mother's Day Fajita Bar!

Great outdoor fun!
This meal is a real crowd pleaser...you can add any condiment you like and you can use meat, chicken, & or shrimp! For this meal I used 2 leftover rib-eye steaks sliced very thin & tossed in a skillet with Fajita seasoning.

Dad can man the grill and the kids can get the condiments together, while Mom gets a massage!
Please allow flexibility with the ingredient amounts for serving, to the amount of guests you have...The 2 steaks I used served 4 people well. So I will leave the amounts up to you...

Let's go Amigos:

Canola oil for skillet

Any protein you like, Ground Beef, Steak, Shredded Chicken, and or Shrimp

***You don't have to use leftover protein...you can cook it from scratch using the Fajita Seasoning as the main seasoning for the dish)

***For Leftovers, toss with the seasoning before reheating

Fajita seasoning 1 1/2 Tbls per Pound

Your Favorite Tortilla

Condiments: I used:

Avocado Cubed Sprinkled with Lemon Juice (this keeps it from Becoming brown)

Chopped Tomatoes

Chopped Scallions

Shredded Cheddar or Shredded Mexican Blend

Limes in wedges for sprinkling on finished Fajita

Sour Cream

Chopped Onions Raw or Caramelized (Sauteed in a skillet)

Chopped Jalapenos

Black Olives

Shredded Lettuce

Chopped Cilantro

Tabasco Sauce

Use as many or as little of these as you like...or maybe you have some Favs I have not mentioned...

Set up a nice bar or assembly line for all of your condiments...Don't forget to put a utensil in each for serving.

Put a stack of Tortillas in some foil and warm on the grill.

Have Dad put the skillet on the grill to heat up the proteins...

Coat the bottom of the skillet with the oil and heat up the protein of your choice. Don't Overcook!

Have Dad put a Tortilla on a plate and put a serving of protein on the Tortilla

Then the guest moves down the line and chooses their favorite condiments

Don't forget to have a big bowl of Tortilla Chips, Salsa, and Queso on your table.

Use brightly colored paper goods and maybe even a Pinata for fun! Make tissue paper flowers and Mom will be so impressed!

A big pitcher of Limonade would be faboo! Squeeze Limes, stir with Sugar and Water...that's all there is to it!