ACCIDENTAL CHICKEN BAKE

We came home from the store a couple of evenings ago and put the perishables in the refrigerator. However, we did not notice that we put a whole bag of Tyson frozen chicken tenderloins in the meat chiller drawer. My wife happened to notice the mistake after the chicken had all thawed, so she reacted quickly to save the meat.

In a large glass-baking dish, she placed all the tenderloins around the bottom, salted, and peppered the pieces. She turned the oven to 450 to pre-heat, while she continued to improvise. She opened a can of Cream of Chicken and another can of Cream of Broccoli soups and poured the contents on top of the chicken.

Just as she finished, I noticed a plastic baggy of left over corn bread. I crumbled the 3 pieces up inside the bag and then spread it out evenly over the top of the soup-covered chicken.

She sprayed down a large sweet potato with cooking oil, placed the potato in an aluminum pan, and she popped it and the chicken dish in the oven for 45 minutes!

When the timer sounded, she placed a can of green peas in the microwave, along with some salt and pepper and a lump of butter, and we were in business!

After spraying the peeled sweet potato with butter spray, and sprinkling some brown sugar around, we sat down to a delicious meal.

Had we not let the chicken accidentally thaw, we would not have had such a quick, easy, and great tasting meal!

MISMATCHED PASTA AND WINE

Following on with the thought of helping you gain some weight for that class reunion (see post below), here is what we had for supper!

We only had half a box of spaghetti and half a box of large elbow macaroni, but having found about a pound of lean hamburger meat in the refrigerator, Judy decided she would make spaghetti using the mismatched pasta. She fixed this wonderful looking dish (the photo is actually the “left over” shot – given away by the added ketchup for moisture), but our evening plans were changed when two of her sisters came by for an unannounced visit. Terri bought a new Mustang GT convertible and so Judy left with the other Dragons to “ride around a little!”

The girls ended up at Krystal’s, and I ended up eating alone. They were gone over 2 hours…up to no good no doubt!

Therefore, the following evening, we opened a bottle of my brother-in-law Gary’s homemade red grape wine, warmed the spaghetti up, and enjoyed a fabulously tasty meal. Pasta dishes always seem better the second night anyway!

CORNBREAD AND GRAVY

Yeah baby! I know you are looking for a way to slap on another 2 or 3 pounds before Labor Day, so this breakfast post and tomorrow’s “supper” post will help you out!

Before “getting serious” again Monday, there were things I wanted to eat. The first was a good old country breakfast of cornbread, white-milk gravy, eggs, and bacon! My gosh, it even had the dog dancing around the kitchen wanting some of the action!

While Judy was busy wiping up the gravy, using the grease from thick sliced bacon, I watched the cornbread in the oven, and whipped up some scrambled eggs. I know what you are thinking, but I got my blood test results back from the doctor today and everything was “PERFECT,” to quote the doc’s comment!

So, it was so delicious there was little left to share with Baylee!

Now, the other things I wanted I will get at my mom’s Sunday afternoon – EVERYTHING FRIED! Fried squash, fried okra, fried green tomatoes, and creamed yellow corn! Is life grand, or what?

QUICK MEAL - STIR-FRIED CHICKEN

Same meal as below except for some yellow and green peppers, and the chicken!

QUICK MEAL – STIR-FRIED PORK CHOP

Yes, I finally did a little cooking this week, but it was out of necessity…Ms. Mushy refused to cook!

I found two leftover pork chops, a bag of frozen vegetables, some peanuts, and an onion – no problem!

Stir-frying makes anything taste good, even leftovers!

I simply cubed up the pork chops, and sat them aside.

I opened a Yuengling, poured it into a frosty glass, and continued to slave hard over a hot stove.

I put on two servings of brown rice, cooked it until all the water was soaked up, and sat that aside.

I cut up the sweet onion and turned on the heat under a skillet that had a little olive oil, some chopped garlic and some hot sauce in it. When the garlic began to dance I dumped in the bag of frozen vegetables, added salt and pepper, and tossed them until they began to thaw. I then dumped in the fresh onion, the peanuts, and the pork chop cubes.

In about 8 minutes, I had a wonderful meal ready to eat!

Cooking is not hard…it is fun and half the pleasure in it is the freedom of creativity you have. Most anything you can imagine will taste good cooked in olive oil and garlic! Even a man can do it!

101 LIP SMACKING POSTS

I did not realize until just now that I have posted 101 of the most lip-smacking food recipes and food shots ever! I don't mean to brag, but even having just finished a wonderful grilled hamburger, looking back over the posts made my mouth water!

Folks, there is not one of the recipes or places I've eaten that isn't good tasting and easily prepared. Like I say, "EVEN A MAN CAN COOK LIKE THIS!"

I may not post often here, but I just can't kill it...too many good things here to pass on and remember.

MUSHY LOVES HIS FOOD!

BRINGING YOU GOOD STUFF SINCE 2006!

FAMILY DINNING AT CARRABBA'S

Nope, I haven’t been spending much time here anymore and I suppose I’m sorry, but the time away has been well spent and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I have been completing my physical therapy for my second shoulder operation, had almost a weeklong visit from my blogging buddy FatHairyBastard, and it’s been so hot that I haven't cooked much.

Now, if you visited Mushy’s Moochings, you know that I have been eating well – lots of food shots there from last week’s visit, but cooking inside, and especially outside on the grill, is just out of the question right now.

Tonight the eight of us dinned at Carrabba’s Italian Grill!

Here is a shot of their bar, which, to me, gives the place an overall rating of a B+. There are only weak, light colored domestics on tap, and the only “pale ale” they had in bottles was New Castle, and of course there was Guinness! I have to admit I enjoyed all three I had, but the super frosty mugs made all the difference!

I started with an order of Calamari, which is lightly battered then fried to tender, crisp, golden brown, and served with a marinara sauce.

The other end of the table ordered Cozze In Bianco, which is fresh Canadian Cove mussels from Prince Edward Island that are steamed in white wine, basil, lemon butter and Pernod. I didn’t like them as much as the ones at Bone Fish, so I stuck primarily with the Calamari!

Three of the outstanding dishes were:

CHICKEN BRYAN

Grilled chicken breast topped with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce.

CHICKEN MARSALA

Grilled chicken breast topped with mushrooms, prosciutto and our Lombardo Marsala wine sauce.

SPIEDINO DI MARE

Shrimp and sea scallops coated with Italian breadcrumbs, grilled and topped with lemon butter sauce.

I would post some of the family shots, but you would not believe some of the weird faces I caught tonight – one eye open one closed, wrinkled noses, and squinted eyes…too much for the blog to handle.

Well, that’s it for this visit…maybe I’ll stick with it…we’ll see. I know, this seems to be a running theme of a couple of my blogs, but I need to spend more time at Mushy’s. Oh, have you seen my new header…I need feedback…thus far it’s a split decision!