Category Archives: Main dish

Baked Tortilla Chips Just in Time for Cinco de Mayo

I made baked tortilla chips for my classes the other day and they loved them.  You know when teenagers tell you that something is good it really is.  They tell it like it is most of the time.  I was proving a point to them about portion control  as well as fat grams in servings.  Bagged corn chips that are usually served with cheese dip or salsa have 180 calories with 9 grams of fat for one serving which is thirteen chips.  I piled the chips up and asked them if they considered that one serving.  Everyone said no very loudly!  Next I pulled out a medium-sized flour tortilla which is 110 calories with 2 grams of fat.  And this is what I did.

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Filed under Appetizer, Cheese Dip, Main dish

Chicken Fingers

I don’t know  many people who don’t love chicken fingers especially children.  In my case it is teenagers and GI Joe and  I’m telling you that my students loved these.   I found the recipe in the magazine Dash that sometimes comes in the Sunday paper. It has everything that cooks love. They are easy and delicious.  I almost forgot these chicken fingers are baked.  Continue reading

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Filed under Main dish

Meat Sauce Made by Rosco

Last week we had the wonderful opportunity of having Rosco from Sam and Rosco’s Restaurant here in Douglasville to be a guest speaker in my classes.  I am not exaggerating at all when I tell you that I had more administrators, teachers, and students than ever before stopping by my room to see what was being prepared.  The aroma of garlic, peppers, and onions was everywhere.  You can just imagine how the best Italian restaurant smells when you walk in and that’s what was permeating the entire back hall. It was amazingly good.  My students were in awe of Rosco’s expertise in cooking and his life story of how he ended up in the restaurant business.  He came here from the Northern part of Iran and graduated from Southern Tech as an engineer.  In college he worked at many great restaurants in Atlanta such as Pano and Paul’s and The Fish Market.  After graduating he taught college for a few years.  As he was offered a Doctorial Program his life took a different turn and he and his college friend Sam decided to open an Italian restaurant that was named Aldo’s.  That restaurant grew from one to several others in the Atlanta area.  Being in the restaurant business is hard work with long hours. When both Sam and Rosco wanted to spend more time with their families all the Aldo restaurants were sold.  Now they operate the one and only Sam and Rosco’s.      Continue reading

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Filed under Bread, Main dish, Restaurant

Hot Chicken Salad

I haven’t made this in forever because I love it!  It’s not good for my lose 5 more pounds diet.  So why is it sitting here on my blog now you ask?  Well, when your son returns home after being in California for a year and the mom has not been able to share the food love whatever the “glad your home son” wants he gets.   Call it I’m home and I want all the comfort food that you can give me.  When I came home from college all I wanted was my mother’s Tuna Casserole.  I wouldn’t ask for her great roast beef and gravy or her famous meatloaf or even her fantastic shrimp salad.  All I wanted was  everyday Tuna Casserole.  Well, this is not your every day Chicken Salad.  It’s a little rich for every day.

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Filed under Main dish

Shrimp and Corn Chowder with Fennel

Soup and chowder are a favorite of mine for several reasons.  A bowl of soup on a cold day just feels good.  A thick creamy chowder is so satisfying.  Best of all they are better the next day. This one is no exception.  It’s easy and great for a weeknight.  Those of you that have never cooked with fennel should try it.  And another thing leeks are so good.  I never knew they were so good.  Where have I been?  Deb an English teacher at my school gave me the lowdown on leeks.  I’m sold now.   Just trust me on this, try the leeks and the fennel. You can thank me later. Then add to the pot potatoes, shrimp and corn.  What else would you need?  Just a little fresh parsley and the juice of a lemon to make the flavors pop.

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Filed under Main dish, Soup

Company Pot Roast

Get ready for the best pot roast that you has ever crossed your lips.  This is not one of those fall apart roast that you cook to death and the end product does not resemble a slice of meat.  This produces a tender slice of beef and the best sauce  gravy that I have ever had.  This Company Pot Roast is Ina Garten’s from her Back to Basics cookbook.  It is all over the blogosphere receiving raves from everyone.  So whenever you want to impress company or just have a great meal for yourself this is a hit and you will find yourself making it over and over.  It is fabulous!

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Filed under Main dish

Beef and Bean Chili with Nachos

A steamy bowl of chili is always a treat for me on a cold wintry day.  We have had our share of downright frigid days for the past couple of weeks.  Now I’m not complaining because we had a beautiful white Christmas that left roads clear and enough snow to build a snowman.  In fact we got to enjoy the white stuff for about four days! I’m just not the type person that likes outdoorsy activities in the cold.  It is so hard to stay warm.  This beef and bean chili is perfect for cold days.  So get in the kitchen and warm up with this great chili from The Best of Fine Cooking Magazine .  

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Filed under Main dish

Top 10 Posts for 2010

BON APPETIT!!!

For the past two weeks I have not posted as often as I wanted to, but for a good reason.  The Athlete has been home for the last ten days and I just wanted to spend as much time with him as I possibly could. I spent a lot of time in the kitchen and will be sharing some really good recipes with you in the coming weeks.  For you to enjoy I have composed the top ten posts that were viewed this year.  I was so surprised at the #1 post! By the way the top photo is my favorite dessert of 2010.  Happy New Year to all of you! 

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Filed under Bar Cookies, Breakfast, Brunch, Cake, corn muffins, Desserts, Main dish, Pie, Quick Breads, Soup, Top 10 of 2010

Spaghetti Squash Gratin with Walnuts and Bacon

This gourd of a vegetable is all new to me.  I had never tasted it nor cooked it until it arrived in my CSA box right before Thanksgiving.  I had no idea what to do with it.  Luck would have it that one of my favorite blogs Clotilde’s Chocolate and Zucchini  just happened to post this Spaghetti Squash Gratin that same week.  It looked delicious so I just had to try it.    I am so glad that I did because it is fantastic and super easy!  In fact the hardest part is cutting the squash in half!

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Filed under Main dish, side dish

A Tribute to the Best Classes and Mexican Stuffed Shells

This is my 25th year at AHS.  I have taught in the same room and have taught an array of classes  from Clothing and Textiles, Interior Decorating, Technology in the Home, Child Development, Teaching as a Profession and Foods.  I’ve loved each and every one of them.  Yes, there have been students that stood out in each of these classes.  Many of them I stay in contact with today, but I’ve never had two classes as I have had this semester.  Don’t get me wrong  the semester hasn’t been a piece of cake.  I have worked myself to death.  We made 32 different dishes.  Half of these we had labs.  So that means that I have spent many hours making grocery lists, shopping, putting groceries up, cooking, cleaning, setting up labs, evaluating work and doing laundry! But, the students have been a different group.

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Filed under Main dish