Celery Risotto with Apples and Basil

This crazy recipe was discovered when I was looking to do something with limp celery that wasn't a soup. The original recipe called for Asian Pears and Shiso, so I substituted with Apples and Basil instead. I also didn't have ricotta or Romano, so I substituted for mozzarella and grated parmesan; I also used Chardonnay rather than vermouth. This was probably one of the most bizaare but totally worth it recipes I've made in a long time. So delicious! This might be one of my staple party side dishes in the future. :)

https://food52.com/recipes/14444-celery-risotto-with-asian-pear-and-shiso

Spanish Rice

One of the staples in our house is cooked rice-specifically Spanish Rice. The hubby doesn't handle cayenne, chili powder or heavy tomato-based products very well, so he sent me in search of a spanish rice recipe that didn't really have any of that.  I've already cooked this delicious one twice in a month!! It's cumin based and so delicious. [I substitute the tomato sauce with a can of un-drained Rotel.]

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/27072/mexican-rice-ii/

Cheesy Chicken Zucchini Casserole

It's the month of Zucchini and I always get excited to see what Pinterest has for me each year. I literally started with the first and have been working my way down. Per the hubby's request, I added chicken as well as little bit of kale for more color/vitamins. This was definitely a keeper "comfort food". :)

https://natashaskitchen.com/2017/07/25/cheesy-zucchini-casserole/

Best Fried Rice

Thanks to my neighbor, I now have ample supply of eggs for my day-to-day cooking. Yesterday, I didn't feel like thawing out a meat for dinner and everyone had had a big lunch so I decided a vegetarian meal would be ok. I cooked about 8 cups of rice so I doubled the recipe. I also used frozen mixed vegetables and it tasted fine without oyster sauce (which you can just substitute additional soy sauce). It was perfect and hit the spot. 

http://chefsavvy.com/the-best-fried-rice/

Gumbo

Every once in a while I get a craving for New Orleans style food. The hubby had added to the freezer Andouille sausage and the store was having a great sale on shrimp so I decided it was time for a nice big pot of gumbo. I will say this is the best version I have ever tried, the hubby seconded that. I cooked the bacon and sausage in the bottom of the pot first then started adding the other ingredients. I also like to add rice to my gumbo. Since I only had a couple of hours to get it simmering and served, I used the rice cooker then added the cooked rice to the pot. The hubby has a hard time with green peppers so I used my mini food processor to chop it up fine--no complaints! I used Sriracha for the hot sauce and, although I think there is a misprint regarding the gumbo file powder, I added 4 teaspoons, but 3 might have been a little better. I did add 6 cups of water rather than 3 since I added rice. I also added carrots per the hubby's request. I recommend taste testing and add salt in moderation. This one is definitely a keeper. :)

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/216888/good-new-orleans-creole-gumbo/

Saffron Rice

So the hubby used to be a sous chef in his younger years and had a craving for Saffron rice. So, naturally he brought home the ingredients and presented them to me. I was actually really excited because I had never made it at home but had often enjoyed it in restaurants. This recipe was perfect. So delicious. He can bring me home ingredients like that anytime. :)

http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2011/09/saffron-rice/

One Pot-Stove-Top Chicken and Rice

We spoil our animals and a prime example is our dogs. I have been making them up chicken or beef broth jars weekly. I put a whole chicken, or roast or whatever in a crockpot and fill it full of water and a few seasonings. Then put the broth in pint size mason jars and each dog gets a half a pint at breakfast and dinner which, one crockpot lasts about a week. Then I have shredded chicken or beef depending on the week. In another blog, I have a recipe for chicken salad, made especially good with the armenian cucumbers from our garden which has now become a staple in our fridge. This past week, I found the following recipe which took almost no effort to make because I used (already cooked) shredded chicken rather than the thighs; I also added onions and mushrooms. If you like looking at recipes, Noble Pig is a favorite.

http://noblepig.com/2016/04/the-best-one-pot-stove-top-chicken-and-rice/