Tasty and Easy Recipes

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup freshly minced parsley
4 cups ripe chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp. chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dried basil
1 tbsp. oregano leaves or 1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. salt
Ground red pepper or cayenne to taste
8 oz. uncooked fusilli pasta
1/2 lb. cooked chicken breast, diced into pieces (optional)

Method:
Heat oil in medium saucepan; sauté garlic and parsley until golden.
Add tomatoes and spices; cook uncovered over low heat 15 minutes or until thickened. If desired, add chicken and continue cooking for 15 minutes until chicken is heated through and sauce is thick.
Cook pasta firm in unsalted water.
To serve, spoon sauce over pasta and sprinkle with coarsely chopped parsley.

Ingredients:
8 ounces boneless steak, cut into 3″x1/4″ strips
4 green onions
1 medium onion
4 garlic cloves
1 tsp salt
6 to 8 ounces somen, ramen, or udon, Japanese rice noodles
6 tbsp. vegetable or peanut oil
1 tbsp. sesame oil
2 chilies, halved lengthwise
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 cup whole fresh mint leaves
Juice of 2 limes or more to taste

Method:
Cut the dark green part of the green onions in 3″ pieces. Chop the white part. Slice the onion thinly and mince the garlic. All can be done in the processor, but keep separate.
Bring 4 quarts of water and salt to boil. Add noodles and cook uncovered over high heat stirring with chopstick or fork for 2 minutes until tender. This applies to fresh noodles that are often sold in the produce department. If you buy the dried noodles, they take about 10 minutes.
Drain in a colander and place over a large bowl. Toss the noodles with the sesame oil so they don’t stick together.
Heat 2 tbsp. oil in a wok or large skillet under medium high heat. Add onions and chilies and stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve if you are using raw steak.
Then add a bit more oil to the wok and stir fry meat until it changes color, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer steak and reserve.
Lower heat to medium and add the garlic and green onions to the wok for about 30 seconds. Add the noodles to the pan along with the broth, soy sauce and heat thoroughly. Add the steak, onion, chilies, mint leaves, and lime juice.
Chilies can be removed or used as garnish – they are very hot!

Texas Easy Chili is a chili powder and tomato juice based sauce combined with cubed or ground beef. Chili originated in Texas in the 1800s. There are many variations of chili. This version does not contain beans.
Makes 6 cups of chili.

Ingredients

* 3 pounds chuck roast or ground beef, cubed or formed into small meatballs
* 2 tablespoons oil
* 2 cloves of garlic, minced
* 6 tablespoons chili powder
* 5 tablespoons flour
* 1 tablespoon dried oregano
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 3 cups tomato juice
* 3 beef bullion cubes
* salt and black pepper to taste
* Garnish – lime wedges and Jalapeno Peppers

Chili Peppers – for additional favor add your favorite peppers to the recipe

1. Cut chuck roast into bite-size pieces or form ground beef into small meatballs (1 inch – 25mm in size).
2. Fry beef in cooking oil until outside is browned.
3. Add minced garlic and cook for two minutes.
4. Combine chili powder, flour, oregano and cumin in bowl and mix well. Sprinkle mixture over cooking beef and stir until beef is well coated with spice mixture. Cook for 1 minute.
5. Add tomato juice and bullion cubes. Stir for about 15 seconds.
6. Simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Remove from heat and add salt and black pepper to taste.