My crowd pleasers
May 28, 2009
Yesterday, when I answered Molly's simple question about magazines, I laughed when I realized that four of the six I receive are about food (Everyday Food, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Food and Wine) and one always has some good food in it (Martha Stewart Living). Even number six (House Beautiful) has recipes in it. Add to that a huge collection of cook books and you might think I like to cook. And I do! Both Fatty and I enjoy spending time in the kitchen and we love to try interesting taste combinations and new recipes. The problem is the kids. Like many other moms, I struggle to find nutritious meals that are kid friendly and still satisfy grown up tastes. The pre-dinner hour is normally hectic so I like meals during the week to be basic enough for me to manage it in a small amount of hands on time. I can tackle the fussier recipes and exotic ingredients on the weekend.
Right now, we have two meals in our rotation that everyone loves. The first is Tuscan Lemon Chicken from Ina Garten's Back to Basics cookbook. The second is Chicken Tacos from the October 2008 issue of Everyday Food. After making both of these recipes numerous times, I have tweaked them to suit our family and can now make both of them without consulting the recipes. Here is what I do.
Tuscan Lemon Chicken adapted from Back to Basics by Ina Garten
(click here for the original recipe)
1 whole chicken cut into eight pieces, bone in, skin on
(You can use whatever pieces you prefer - we sometimes just choose thighs)
2 or 3 lemons
1/3 c olive oil
a couple sprigs of rosemary, chopped
4 or more cloves of garlic, chopped
kosher salt
pepper
The night before make the marinade by combining the zest of two lemons with the olive oil and 1/3 cup lemon juice. Add the rosemary, garlic and pepper. (I use freshly ground pepper and totally eyeball it - I'm guessing it's about 1/2 tsp.). Generously salt the chicken and place in a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken and refrigerate overnight.
Pull the chicken out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you are ready to cook it. In the cookbook, Ina calls for grilling, but we roast it in the oven. I turn my oven to 425 degrees on convection bake and roast for 40 to 45 minutes.
We often use any leftovers for a salad or for sandwiches. Emily makes hers with parsley instead of rosemary and she grills it. Super easy and really tasty, even for my pickiest eater.
Chicken Tacos adapted from Everyday Food, October 2008
(original recipe here)
1.5 to 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 c roasted tomato jarred salsa (I buy the Frontera Grill Roasted Tomato at Whole Foods)
6 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tbsp. chile powder
salt and pepper
Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl, coating the chicken. Cook in a slow cooker for 4 hours on high or 8 hours on low. When the chicken is finished, shred with two forks and serve with your favorite taco toppings.
I often eat this on top of lettuce with salsa and a side of black beans and rice. Leftovers make great quesadilla filling.
So there you have it- two sure-fire crowd pleasers. What are yours?
I'm definitely going to have to give these a try. Ina Garten knows her stuff.
Posted by: Tracy | May 28, 2009 at 03:52 PM
we love any kind of tacos or burritos here. Why is food so much more appealing when you can wrap it up?
I'm going to try that chicken, maybe tomorrow's dinner.
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 28, 2009 at 04:26 PM
I love go-to recipes. I received the back-to-basics book for Christmas I think but I haven't made anything from it yet. Need to change that!
Posted by: Mama Urchin | May 28, 2009 at 04:40 PM
There are some good recipes for everyone in my family in Saving Dinner by Leanne Ely.
Posted by: Bea's Closet | May 28, 2009 at 04:47 PM
try Fine Cooking magazine! You'll LOVE it.
Posted by: cynthia | May 28, 2009 at 04:55 PM
those both look good. We love the roasted cod and potatoes from EDF Sept '06. We have it at least once a month. And we eat a lot of ground turkey- in burgers, as indian-spiced balls w/ pita, and in a throw-together meatloaf w/ oatmeal, veggies, and a can of tomato paste. And if I'm really desperate- it's shrimp and noodles and whatever vegetable I can find with lemon juice and zest. Everyone loves shrimp over here!
Posted by: melissa | May 28, 2009 at 05:25 PM
We must be on the same wave length because this is what I have been writing about this week. I have been posting our weekly menu as well. I try to make things that are kid friendly, healthy, and quick (I don't have long to spend in the kitchen after I get home from work.).
Right now my go to meals are: fish tacos. We are also eating grilled flank steak (marinated in beer and lime) with black beans and fresh tomatoes and avocado on a somewhat regular basis.
Posted by: dani@little fists | May 28, 2009 at 06:03 PM
we ate this last night:
http://theglobalkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/05/cheese-gilded-linguine-with-smoky.html
it's from How to Eat Supper which I think is a fantastic family cookbook. Most meals can be prepared in 30 minutes and they are all (well not all, but pretty much) really freakin good.
Posted by: meg | May 28, 2009 at 07:07 PM
yum! thanks! I'm saving these for the trip. That I should be on today. But will really be on tomorrow.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | May 28, 2009 at 07:11 PM
um! i've got a picky toddler on my hands and i've been cooking and baking from the sneaky chef-- the recipes are good for you and kiddos like them! chocolate chip cookies with white beans! crazy, but extra healthy and yummy.
Posted by: Ashley | May 28, 2009 at 07:36 PM
My favorite recipe is my adaptation of my mother in law's homemade ravioli recipe that she adapted from an Aunt who came through Ellis Island's method. I made it a lazy person's dish since I use wonton wrapper's and not hand rolled pasta.
Meat and Spinach Ravioli
1 pound good quality ground beef - Fry with salt and pepper to taste and drain
1 15 oz can spinach squeezed dry
1 med onion
2 stalks celery
3 T chopped Italian parsley
a grating of nutmeg
a clove of garlic
Put all above into food processor and copd until onions and celery are at minced size
Mix well and wrap in wonton wrappers - You can put a teaspoon on a single wrapper and fold diagonally. Moisten edges with water and press with fork to seal.
Boil for 5 minutes and serve with your favorite sauce.
2 pkgs wonton wrappers
Posted by: Penny G | May 28, 2009 at 07:55 PM
I love Ina Garten! I just got some leg quarters out of the freezer for no apparent reason. Great recipe to use. Thanks!
Posted by: cindy | May 28, 2009 at 07:56 PM
we have such similar taste. ;)
Posted by: Grace | May 28, 2009 at 08:25 PM
I'm right there with you on the Everyday Food Chicken Tacos. We love that one and often fill soft tacos or burritos with it - adding cheese and or beans and cilantro always pleases the adults as well.
We always fall back on a basic roasted chicken. I find you can't go wrong with any seasoning options (my favorite is sticking garlic cloves under the skin and rubbing the skin with olive oil, kosher salt and pepper). And the house smells so delicious while it's cooking!
Posted by: Amy | May 28, 2009 at 08:33 PM
i love ina's everything and anything.
and i can bet my kids would love penny's meat and spinach ravioli!!!
Posted by: leslie | May 28, 2009 at 08:56 PM
Mmmm.
And Raike asked me today why I haven't gotten the recipes for your guacamole and those chillied eggs. I MUST remember to get those from you, or he may come to your house to live.
Posted by: caroline | May 28, 2009 at 09:04 PM
A current favorite at our house: sprinkle boneless, skinless chicken thighs w/sea salt and ground pepper. Grill. A few minutes before removing from grill, brush both sides w/KC BBQ sauce. Serve w/corn on the cob (removed from the cob, unfortunately) and caesar salad. The kids LOVE it - and not a nugget in sight!
Posted by: Pam | May 28, 2009 at 11:42 PM
I will try these - thanks! I have that Ina book and have somehow missed this recipe; will use your adaptations.
Posted by: Lecia | May 29, 2009 at 01:29 AM
Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair is my go to cookbook - it definitely doesn't have sexy pictures like Ina Garten, but my kiddos will eat most anything out of there.
I do always have a supply of Ina's pizza dough on hand though (recipe is in her first parties book) - have the kids roll it out, plop on their own topping and the crust just pops up. Yum!
Posted by: LopsidedMom | May 29, 2009 at 01:38 AM
Our go to recipe is jarred Bertolli vodka sauce, 1 lb of penne pasta (or something similar), and either chicken tenders or ground beef. First, cook the meat, then dump in the jar of sause and the uncooked pasta. Add enough water to cover the pasta, put on the lid, and cook until done. So, so easy. If a I have fresh basil on hand I throw some of that in at the end, and sometimes top with mozarella or parmesean cheese. We have this once a week, at least.
I'm gonna give that chicken taco recipe a try - it looks tasty.
Posted by: beki | May 29, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Homemade spaghetti sauce, which is basic marinara plus ground beef. The busy night version is one 28 oz can of crushed or diced tomatoes, which I food-process down to smaller bits. First saute about 1/2 onion and 1-2 stalks celery in the pan with the ground beef, about 1 lb, drain, add some crushed garlic, about 1-2 cloves, then tomatoes and about 1 cup water, simmer until reduced. Add salt, pepper, rosemary, basil, oregano to taste, start with about 1/2 tsp of each. Easy for a spaghetti night. This is an informal post of the recipe because we do it by sight/taste. The basic recipe came from the cookbook from The Sopranos series, a Christmas gift years ago and actually a good italian food source.
Posted by: Myra | May 29, 2009 at 11:06 AM
My kids LOVE Everyday Food's lowfat chicken potpie. We have tweaked it a bit, and make a biscuit topping instead of piecrust. Homemade pizza and roasted chicken are big too.
Posted by: Mary | May 29, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Lately, mexican lasagna from the pioneer woman cooks site. I use corn tortillas when my mom visits to make it gluten free. Enough for two family servings (that's 6 around here). I freeze one and dinner's made for next week, too! We also love slow cooked pork chops (boneless) with apples, onions, and a bit of white sauce. Sounds strange, but very very good. Tender, so my littles can eat it without much trouble. And the all time fav is home made pizza. Everybody can decide their own toppings....
Posted by: water works | May 29, 2009 at 01:34 PM
Oh gosh! Those look so delicious!
Thank you!
Here's a couple we love:
http://annies-eats.com/2009/02/18/baked-shrimp-scampi/
and this one over rice http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1851565
Posted by: stefani | May 29, 2009 at 02:03 PM
Thanks Erin! They sound wonderful and I would like to try them both! Lately we have been loving chicken soft tacos... always a favorite:)
Posted by: Modern Crush | May 29, 2009 at 02:25 PM
oh, yum. those chicken tacos are going on my grocery list. (for next week...I'm given myself a little challenge for this week)
Posted by: molly | May 29, 2009 at 03:17 PM
I love Ina's recipes. I have yet to make one of her's that doesn't yield perfect results. My go to dinner for the kids is this http://mixingbowlkids.typepad.com/kids/2009/04/the-meatballs-are-coming.html
they will always, always eat them. We also love quesadillas and soup...it doesn't matter what I put into a pot of soup, they will eat it.
Posted by: Jan Scott | May 30, 2009 at 08:13 AM
Made the lemon chicken this weekend. A new family favorite. Great cold on our picnic. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Posted by: cindy | June 01, 2009 at 02:24 PM
Had your Tuscan chicken for dinner tonight...my family loves you :o)
Posted by: Kay Snyder | June 01, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Looks like you like Ina a lot;-) I do too, all her recipes are simple and good... even for picky children! I am thinking of getting The Silver Spoon... how do you like it?
Posted by: Jane | June 04, 2009 at 07:49 PM