If you are scared of drying out your baked chicken, try the beer-in-the-butt chicken! It is for those of us without a rotisserie, didn't marinate the chicken, and want something juicy and delicious tonight - don't get me wrong you can definitely marinate it if you like.

I always buy my (meat, in general, but especially) chicken when it is on sale for under $1.00 per pound. Most times, it is a meal tonight and leftovers for something yummy tomorrow.

Here is momma's beer-in-the-butt chicken recipe:

Ingredients:

Whole chicken
Olive oil (or any you have on hand)
Salt
Pepper

Your favorite seasonings
I get a little spice crazy with it..
Brown sugar
Garlic powder
Chachere's
Cayenne pepper
Paprika
rosemary
thyme
basil
onion powder



Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Start with a whole chicken. Rinse out the cavity and all over the bird. Lay the chicken in a roasting pan, glass dish, or any baking pan. Rub with olive oil and then season with your rub (or just salt and pepper works just fine! Have a couple sips of the beer.. or get rid of half the beer anyway you like ;) ... Today I poured it into the baking dish.. should have saved it for my hubby! (No beer for me for at least six months!).









Here is another photo (less spices, but added fresh time in the cavity and under the skin) on a different night that we had the beer in the butt chicken - it is a great "go - to" and you can make more than one bird in the oven if you have guests... depending on the size it should not be longer than 1 hour and a half. Make some pasta or rice and serve with your favorite veggies.



Be sure to let the chicken rest for at least ten minutes before carving into it.

Enjoy!

Momma's Very Veggie Meatloaf

Ingredients

* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 stalk of celery
* 1/2 medium onion
* 1 small zucchini or squash
* 1/2 red bell pepper
* 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
* Sea salt and ground black pepper
* Sprinkle of Adobo (or your favorite seasoned salt)
* 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 1 tablespoon dried thyme
* 1 tablespoon dried parsley
* 1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground beef
* 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
* 1/2 cup freshly grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
* Dash hot sauce
* Dash Worcestershire sauce
* Dash Soy Sauce
* 1/2 cup ketchup
* 1/4 cup plus dash balsamic vinegar



Directions

Finely dice the vegetables, I like to use our food processor . Heat the oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the veggies for 2 minutes and then the minced garlic. Season with salt and pepper and cook until the vegetables are almost soft, about 5 minutes. Set aside to cool (or put in the fridge to cool faster). Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk the egg in large bowl and add herbs, bread crumbs, grated cheese, 1/4 cup ketchup, dash of balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and hot sauce (optional) and mix thoroughly. Finally add the beef and cooled vegetables; gently mix (with your hands) until just combined.

Form a loaf in a pan or use cookie sheet with at least 1/2 inch sides because there will be grease. Whisk the remaining ketchup and balsamic vinegar and pour the mixture over the entire loaf.

From cooking

Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing. I like to serve with homemade mashed potatoes and corn.. or what I like to call grown-up shepherd's pie.

From cooking

Please enjoy!

Fried rice

The Bachelorette finale was last night and my friend, Susan, hosted a mommies' night in party (so much fun!!!). Jillian Harris made her final selection in Hawaii between Kiptyn Locke and Ed Swiderski (final choice). I decided to make fried rice because in Hawaii, Spam is sometimes dubbed "The Hawaiian Steak".
So, here is my method for some delicious fried rice.

Ingredients:

3 cups (dry) jasmine rice
4 eggs
1 can of SPAM (low sodium or lite)
1 pound small to medium shrimp
2 celery stalks
2 carrots
1 medium onion
1 green pepper
1 teaspoon fresh ginger (or few dashes powdered)
1 teaspoon garlic ((or few dashes powdered)
3 teaspoons butter (you may omit butter)
Olive oil (or any you have on hand)
Sesame oil
Soy sauce (low sodium or any kind is fine/we use Kikoman)
pepper

Prepare rice and refrigerate at least 2-4 hours, or overnight.

Whisk/scramble eggs and add pepper.
Dice SPAM into little square pieces.
Peel and rinse shrimp.
Chop veggies finely (I like to use our processor to make pieces very fine).

Turn large wok, or large pan on MED-HI heat. After pan is heated, put one teaspoon butter in pan and a dash of sesame oil. Coat pan with the mixture.
Fry the SPAM until crispy and put in large bowl.

Next, put one teaspoon butter in pan and a dash of olive oil.
Fry the shrimp till just pink and put in the bowl.

Fry the eggs and put in the bowl.
(Sometimes, I do the eggs first)

Now, fry the veggie mix. After 2-3 minutes add 1 teaspoon butter and the garlic and ginger. Mix frequently.

Put rice on top and break it up. Add soy sauce (will steam) and continue mixing the rice and veggies. (I am not sure of the amount of soy sauce... never measured it - sorry! but you want a consistent light brown color throughout)

Add contents of bowl and keep mixing ... Serve hot and with soy sauce on side - Yum-Yum!

I have got to remember to take pictures before I pack up the food! =)

Here are two shots.. one with flash and one without.

Butter chicken (Murgh makhani)





Maybe I will get a better camera for Christmas!

More food!

Shrimp fried rice


Vegetable Stir Fry


More chicken stir-fry



I love cooking -- I make my family recipes and of course, recipes you love to eat but do not want to make yourself!

Some fish and shrimp dishes ...

Spicy shrimp stir-fry

Baked salmon with brown rice

Baked Cajun tilapia and shrimp

with rice

My dishes

Beef stir-fry

Twice baked potatoes

Momma's meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and corn

Chicken adobo