What's For Din Din

Shake -n- Bake Chicken Thighs (with my own twist), and Orzo Pasta with Baby Spinach, Cherry Tomatoes, and Feta Cheese!

The Orzo Pasta came out really yummy!  While the Orzo was cooking, I sauteed some minced garlic in olive oil and then added the baby spinach and cherry tomatoes.  I sauteed these ingredients along with a dash of red pepper flakes, freshly ground black pepper, and some oregano.  I didn't want to over-cook these ingredients...only until the spinach was slightly wilted and the tomatoes began to soften! 

Then I drained the Orzo and added it to the cooked ingredients.  After all the ingredients were in the serving bowl, that's when I added the cubed-up feta cheese and stirred the feta into the hot Orzo...the feta cheese melted slightly.  Yum!

I can imagine serving this dish in the summer-time also!  Maybe slightly chilled, alone, or with some grilled chicken or fish.

My Shake -n- Bake Chicken Thighs also turned out quite delicious...and juicy!

I used skinless chicken thighs (and a couple of drum sticks), and breaded them with regular Shake -n- Bake (for chicken).  Towards the end of the cooking process, I added my own twist by pouring over the thighs, my own mixture of:  lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, and melted Smart Balance "butter".  I let the chicken finish cooking. 

The chicken turned out really yummy!  Lemony and Juicy!  To quote my son, Angelo, the chicken was "Bangin" and "Nice and Lemony".  LOL!

Hope you enjoyed this post!  

Ciao for now, and happy eating!

Gina D.

What's For Din Din Tonight

Happy Friday Night, All!

I made some Steak Pizzaiola tonight, which is basically thinly-sliced beef sauteed and simmered in peppers and tomato sauce...Yum!  I also made Birds Eye frozen "Asparagus Stir-Fry".

I made the Steak Pizzaiola by first sauteing some chopped garlic in olive oil.  When the garlic was sizzling nicely, but not brown, I added the thinly sliced beef to the pan.  I then seasoned the beef with freshly-ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, and just a dash of salt.  

When the slices of beef were slightly browned on both sides, I added some parsley, 1/2 red bell pepper, sliced and 1/2 Vidalia onion, also sliced, on top.  Then I covered the pan and let it simmer for 10 minutes.

Then I transferred everything to an oven pan, spooned some tomato sauce on top, and let it cook some more in a 400 degree oven, for about another 15 minutes! 

The flavors really meld together beautifully in the "oven" step, and the beef and peppers get soft and yummy!

Steak Pizzaiola and side of Roast Potatoes

As I mentioned, I took some help tonight from Birds Eye brand Asparagus Stir-fry, which has not only asparagus in it, but also string beans, cauliflower, carrots, and even pasta! I prepared as per the package directions, BUT personalized it by adding a dash of Sesame Oil and Teriyaki Sauce!  

Ahhh, the best of both food worlds...Italian, and some Asian flavors going on in the Veggie Stir-Fry!  It doesn't get better than this!

Please feel free to share a recipe with me, or if you try one of mine, let me know how it turned out.  

Ciao,  再见

Gina D.

What's For Din-Din Tonight

Colorful and Delicious Roasted Veggies!

Probably all my readers have made Roasted Vegetables before!  I love to roast veggies, as roasting them intensifies their flavors, brings out their natural sugars and turns them into sweet, healthy treats!  The broccoli florets turned out especially yummy!

In case you've never tried to roast veggies, or if they never turn out quite right, here's a great link all about roasting veggies.   It explains exactly what to do and what not to do! 

I also made some tri-color Quinoa!

QUINOA  is just so healthy!  (Pronounced KEEN-WA)

Hey, I'm so HAPPY that today wasn't the end of the world after all!  Although I heard on the news that we had a "close call" with a falling Asteroid!  Yup...it came within 4.3 million miles of earth!  LOL!