Honey Mustard Baked Chicken

I've pretty much dropped the Star Wars names from my recipes. Finding out what to name my meals was taking up a lot of planning time and I'd rather be playing with the kids (or, let's get real, taking a break from the mayhem). I knew that the boys didn't enjoy mustard coming in to this recipe but I've found that if you don't always tell them the ingredients, they are more likely to try it. And it worked! I'm not sure they loved it, but they certainly ate it without complaint. The glaze was yellow mustard mixed with honey (about 1/4 cup each) and 1/2 tablespoons of basil, parsley, and paprika. It was a tiny bit spicy with the paprika but not overwhelmingly so.

Honey Mustard Baked Chicken

Homemade Lasagna

This is where I really start to feel accomplised. What average 22 year old female can boast making a lasagna from scratch. Granted, I did not make my own noodles, nor did I make my own tomato sauce but the rest was my creation. Even the ricotta and herbs mixture was of my own doing. WOOT!

Homemade Lasagna

Both of my boys immediately chowed down! I thought they would because I've previously served them take-out lasagna (I am ashamed to say it) and they really liked that version. I started with a layer of meat sauce, then a layer of noodles, then the ricotta mixture [which included basil and oregano] and finally a layer of mozerella. I repeated that step two more times until the final layer of meat sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven covered for 35 minutes and enjoooooy! [Here it is in all of it's 9 x 2 x 13inch glory but with horrible lighting]

Salmon and Sloppy Joe (Not All at Once)

Where did I leave off? Oh yes, a week ago today. Sorry for the hold up! Christmas and a blizzard kept me from blogging, but now I am back on track. I only have 2 meals for you until this evening (last Wednesday and Thursday) because last Friday was pizza and yesterday some family friends came over for a dinner party. Here is the first:

Maple Glazed Salmon with Broccoli and a Biscuit

An oldie but goodie. Anakin dug in but my little Daisy Picker told me he didn't like it without even tasting it. Of course when he was told he couldn't have a cookie unless he ate his dinner, he changed his story :P

Turkey Sloppy Joe's and Sweet Potato Fries

There were more fries than that but I ate them before I remembered to take a picture. Both boys really liked this one from the start and I think the reason is that it was on a hamburger roll. Both boys LOVE bread and I have to make sure I keep an eye on the Daisy Picker or he's liable to eat just the bread and tell me that he's full. Whenever we have rolls or biscuits (like the one above) DP has to now wait until the end to have one.

Yoda Pie

The last nanny for the boys promised to make them Chicken Pot Pie inside of a pumpkin because one of her best friends had done it. For one reason or another, she never got around to it, and the boys have been begging for chicken pot pie ever since. I've only ever had store-bought chicken pot pie and am never impressed with it. With the time restraints that I mentioned, there was no way that I could tackle a pie from scratch–an intricate (and time consuming task). What with the baking of the crust, the cooking of the meat and filling, and then finally baking the concoction all together, I would've had to start cooking last night. So I found a recipe for "2-Step Inside Out Chicken Pot Pie". So much simpler: bake some biscuits (I chose Pillsbury's Buttermilk Grands Biscuits), cook the chicken thoroughly, add a bag of mixed frozen vegetables and condensed Cream of Chicken Soup. Serve the filling over the biscuits and you have "Yoda Pie". Anakin decided that since Yoda's speech pattern is backwards (or inside out) that this was the perfect name for our meal.

Yoda Pie

Both boys really liked this meal EXCEPT that the Daisy Picker is now becoming my "It's disgusting, I don't like it before I've even tried it" eater. When I actually get him to eat it, he changes his mind :P Sometimes I think I should revert back to the chicken nugget/frozen meatball menu. Dinner without a fight would be much nicer than the struggle of getting little ones to try new things. But the cooking is too much fun and serving the same microwavable meals over and over gets dull.

Make-Your-Own-Pizza Night

Hooray for making dinner a fun activity for the boys! The next 2.5 weeks are going to be a little hectic because I have all three kids. Anakin is going to a sports camp for the day tomorrow (as he did today) so the Daisy Picker/Pepperoni/Mom and I are going to get to spend some quality time together.

I can't really take much credit for tonight's dinner since the boys did all the work! Betty Crocker makes some wonderful instant dough (a shortcut, I know, but there is just no time to make homemade when the boys and the baby are underfoot) where you just add hot water. Boboli makes pizza specific tomato sauce, and we decided to use cheese and pepperoni (in honor of our baby girl) as toppings.

Personal Pan Pizzas

The Pizza on the left is Anakin's [he loved both the activity AND the food]. I know it's his because he did the pizza by the book, exactly how I would have done it. The Daisy Picker insisted on no tomato sauce so his pizza is bread, cheese, and pepperoni (add that to the 10-15 pepperonis I let him eat as an appetizer and he ended up being stuffed). To me, that sounds kind of bland but he loved it. It only needed to go into the oven for about 10 minutes so it ended up being a "quick-fix dinner" [the dough didn't have to rise, or anything].

"What are the charred bits on the pan?" you ask. The kids couldn't help but get some cheese and tomato sauce on the cookie sheet but that wasn't a problem because I coated the cookie sheet in a thin layer of olive oil. Hooray for ingenuity and easy clean-up!

Ranch Baked Chicken

Last friday, I ended up babysitting until about 11 o'clock; as a result, I didn't get to post that night's dinner. Here it is! Both of the boys really liked the chicken because I cut it up into small pieces [as usual] and told them that it was my own chicken nugget recipe. They absolutely scarfed it down. It's simple to make (duh). First you get some sour cream and dip the chicken breast into it (sounds a little strange, but it tasted wonderful). Then you mix half a packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix (the dry kind) and plain bread crumbs together and dip the chicken in that. Make sure all of the chicken is well coated and then place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

Ranch Baked Chicken

Pork Tenderloin take 2

Yesterday was left-overs because I only had one child for dinner [the Daisy Picker went over a friend's house]. But today, I tackled an old favorite: the Pork Tenderloin. You can see my original adventure with it if you click here. Second time around wasn't so bad. It wasn't as good, though, because I didn't have time to let it marinate. Little Pepperoni was not taking very long naps today and the meat took longer to thaw than I originally thought it would. The brown rice pictured here is Bird's Eye brand rice in a bag that you steam in the microwave (so good with just a little butter added!) and the broccoli is fresh cut straight from a crown.

Of course, the Daisy Picker loved it but Anakin insisted that he didn't...even though he devoured it the first time that I made it >:C. 5-year-old's these days!

Herb Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey!

New favorite recipe for EVERYONE. Seriously. We had friends over for a play-date and we invited them to stay for dinner [a 3-year-old boy and an 18-month-old girl]. We sat down at the table and everyone immediately began to dig in. Of course, the Daisy Picker had to make his traditional trip to the bathroom right as the eating commenced.

Baked Ziti with Ground Turkey

Cooked noodles, ground turkey (cooked, of course, and seasoned with "Italian Seasoning"), some pasta sauce, Parmesan cheese and a cup of mozzarella mixed into the sauce. Lastly, a thick layer of mozzarella to top it all off and you have perfection!

Playing Catch-Up!

Things have gotten pretty crazy in my nanny-world and my blog has been suffering as a result. The baby nurse went on to another job in NYC so little Pepperoni and I have been hanging out a lot more. I have a lot less down time and by the end of the night (after playing and helping to care for three children) I am plumb tuckered out!

Last Tuesday I made:

Ewok Pork Chops

The Daisy Picker took an immediate liking to it while Anakin, being his usual self, swore that he thought it was disgusting. He ended up eating it the following night, though, when he didn't approve of my next dish:

Tuscan Chicken Simmer

By FAR one of my favorite meals. It's cooked chicken breasts simmered in a creamy pesto sauce with grape tomatoes cut in half. DELISH. The Daisy Picker also enjoyed this fare. I commented to Anakin that maybe he only likes day-old recipes since he devoured the pork chops from the night before that he swore were gross.

Thursday and Friday's meals were cop-outs meaning they were either microwaved or popped out of a package just because we had so so much going on both days.

Monday (yesterday) was back to the drawing board with:

Quick Creamy Chicken and Noodles

I'm just realizing now that it's all pretty monotone. Egg noodles, cubed cooked chicken breast, Parmesan cheese, milk, and Campbell's condensed Cream of Chicken Soup seasoned with black pepper actually makes a surprisingly tasty (and quick!) meal. Both kids loved this last one.

I am going to endeavor to keep up to date on all of my dinners. I may even start displaying what I serve for side dishes [OooooOOo, AAAaaahhhh]!

VooDoo Pasta (a.k.a. Emperor Palpatine Pasta)

I was immediately intrigued by the name of this recipe when I originally saw it: VooDoo Pasta. Funny, I took a whole class on Caribbean cultures in College and this recipe never popped up. I read down the ingredients list: alfredo sauce, fusilli pasta, smoked sausage and BAM! Cajun Seasoning. You can either follow that handy link to a recipe for creating the concoction or you can buy it pre-made from McCormick.

I wasn't too sure how the boys would respond to a seasoning with so many...well...seasonings. Cayenne pepper, garlic powder, paprika, etc. just doesn't strike me as something that would click with the under 5 palette. So I opted out of the pre-made and just added a little black pepper, parsley leaves, and oregano to the already smoked sausage. I cooked the noodles and combined it all in a huge saucepan.

Anakin, less willing to admit that he enjoys the taste of new foods, spit out the sausage and promptly got in trouble. The Daisy Picker OF COURSE knew that the sausage was disgusting because Anakin didn't like it. Sometimes I wish I could sequester them in separate rooms to eat because the Daisy Picker is more likely to try new things.

Emperor Palpatine Pasta a.k.a.Vodoo Pasta

*I'm not putting a critique on this one because Anakin negatively influenced The Daisy Picker and I think BOTH actually really enjoyed it considering they ate the noodles at lightening speed.

Italian Chicken with Zucchini

This meal was a HUGE cheat. We are really crunched for time on Thursdays so I opted to go with Perdu's pre-seasoned chicken breast (Italian) and some zucchini which I microwaved in sea-salt-water. Still appetizing! You can even bake it from frozen if you really have no time.

Italian Chicken and Zucchini

Critique:
The Daisy Picker: 2 thumbs up
Anakin Skywalker: 2 thumbs up

Maple Salmon

Have you ever made your own marinade? No? Well I have! WOOT! And it was an awesome tasting one as well. Maple syrup, fresh ground pepper, soy sauce, and minced garlic all poured over salmon fillets is a recipe for WIN. You know how I know? Anakin gave this recipe 10 thumbs up!

Maple Salmon

Critique

The Daisy Picker: 10 thumbs up!
Anakin: 10 thumbs up!

Farfalle Pesto with Chickpeas

Finally! I found something that Anakin Skywalker, my 5-year-old incredibly harsh food critic, likes. And I am sad to say it's probably the easiest meal I've made to date. Literally Farfalle noodles, Butoni's Refrigerated Pesto, and some Chickpeas (though, if I had it to do all over again, I would ax the chickpeas). He even asked for seconds.

Farfalle Pesto with Chickpeas

Critique
The Daisy Picker: Four thumbs up!
Anakin Skywalker: Four thumbs up!

Chewbacca's Chicken Cutlets

After a long sabbatical for Thanksgiving and the weekend, I continue my journey with Chewbacca's Chicken Cutlets. Just a reminder that none of these meals are actually in anyway connected with the Star Wars franchise, I just name them special names so that the boys will be more inclined to eat them. (Note: I didn't have a enough time to arrange this dinner nicely for the photo. Here it is right out of the pan)

Chewbacca's Chicken Cutlets

This is also an incredibly simple recipe. I chose to use "flavored" bread crumbs (Italian, if you're curious) making the seasoning bit a lot easier. First, you tenderize the meat and flatten out the boneless-skinless breast strip. Then you dip it in flour, then a mixture of egg and milk, and finally into bread crumbs. What is SUPPOSED to happen next is: put the cutlet into olive oil in a skillet and cook on each side for 2.5-3 minutes. What REALLY happened, was my first kitchen nightmare.

I was trying to let the kids help me with preparation. They were really intrigued by me tenderizing the meat and eagerly volunteered to dip the raw meat in the three mixtures. After each of them touched the cutlet and felt its "sliminess" I lost my unpaid assistants. BUT they never left the kitchen. It's sweet that they want to be with me but they were much more of a hindrance than a help with their constant distraction. Anakin (5) wanted me to read him a book and volunteered to follow me around the kitchen and turn the pages.

I lost track of what I was doing and let the oil go for too long scorching the bottom of the skillet. The room filled with smoke, there was lots of coughing but thank goodness no fire alarm. All I need is a Brillo pad to fix the mess, but come on, FATE! I used another pan but will have to clean the other one tomorrow.

Critique*:
Daisy Picker: Neutral
Anakin: Neutral

*A note on critiques: Anakin is a very mature 5 year old and an extremely tough food critic. I think he just enjoys saying that everything that isn't a hot dog or a chicken nugget is gross and the Daisy Picker tends to copy him. From now on, I am going to have to 'adjust' their critiques.

Herb Rubbed Pork Tenderloin Medallions

No cutesy names for this meal because I named it after The Daisy Picker (his real name) and I shall not divulge his try identity. You'll just have to settle for his alter-ego. I really enjoyed making this meal because I felt like a true chef. I had to follow instructions that sent me on my first "sear"-ing journey, and also baked the pork tenderloin in a skillet. A skillet–people– something usually reserved for the stove top. (Warning: I didn't get very good lighting on this photo so the colors are a little 'off')

Herb Rubbed Pork Tenderloin Medallions and Corn on the Cob

The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity [which is quickly becoming a common theme in my cooking]. I literally mixed olive oil, thyme, rosemary, garlic, salt, and fresh ground pepper in a tiny dish and rubbed it onto the tenderloin. I seared it on all of it's sides, cut it into 1-inch medallions and put it in the oven for a little over 20 minutes. Voila! Gourmet-on-the-Go.

Critique
The Daisy Picker: 2 thumbs up!
Anakin Skywalker: 1 thumb up

Darth Tator Tot Casserole

In keeping with the Star Wars theme, my second dish is named after the most evil villain of the series. I've wanted to try this recipe for a really long time because it's been featured in one of my favorite shows, 19 Kids and Counting. This show features the Duggar Family who I incidentally bumped in to a couple of months ago down the street from the National Zoo!

Darth Tator Tot Casserole

I actually took certain liberties with the recipe I found because the previous nanny to this family told me that the kids had very bland tastes. SHE WAS WRONG. I decided to keep it simple with just using tater tots, cream of mushroom soup, ground beef, a hint of minced garlic, and skim milk. The Daisy Picker (3) wouldn't eat it unless I sprinkled it with Old Bay Seasoning and Anakin (5) mostly just ate the tater tots off the top. Next time, I think I'll add in the onion and the seasonings.

Critique:
The Daisy Picker: Thumbs Down
Anakin: Thumbs Down

HELLO and Han Solo Shells with Chicken and Broccoli

Let me introduce myself:

I'm a fresh out of college nanny in D.C. to two wonderful boys, Anakin Skywalker [age 5] and The Daisy Picker [age 3], and their lovely newborn sister, Pepperoni. No, those aren't their real names, but the oldest is obsessed with Star Wars, the middle one is easily distracted [especially by nature's gems] and the little one is so pink that the boys nicknamed her Perpperoni. As much as I would love to gush about my wonderful family, I've decided to protect their identity and their privacy and keep this blog strictly on topic. What is that topic, you ask? I reply to your query, "With a title like 'The Nanny Cooks', could you be expecting anything other than food?!"

The mom of The Family (a.k.a. my employer) gave me free reign in developing dinner menus for the boys and I was incredibly excited about practicing my cooking skills. I'm no expert, but I am really great at following directions and recipes and loved to force my cooking on friends in college. What makes the idea of cooking for the boys even more intriguing is the ease in which I acquire all of my ingredients. The Family chooses to shop at a supermarket called "Giant" that provides online shopping and home delivery to their customers. I never have to step one toe into a supermarket. I just plan out the menus for the following week, add my ingredients to the list, and it shows up LITERALLY on my doorstep on Friday morning.

For my first recipe, I decided to pick something simple in ingredients to get the boys used to trying new things. Like most kids their ages, the boys consider hot dogs and chicken nuggets to be gourmet. I also thought that naming the recipes after Star Wars characters may get Anakin to try food without protest. And I think it pretty much worked!

Han Solo Shells with Chicken and Broccoli

This was actually a really fun recipe to make because it gave me the opportunity to create my own alfredo sauce using heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and butter. Add in broccoli, shells, and pre-cooked chicken and it's heaven.

Critique:
The Daisy Picker: two thumbs up
Anakin Skywalker: one them up