Category Archives: Pasta and Rice

pasta and rice recipes

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken, broth, noodles and vegetables creates a delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

This summer I prepared for the  family reunion a crock pot of simmered chicken breast with minimum seasoning.  This was to meet dietary needs of those who could not tolerate garlic, barbecue sauce, diabetic, or need for fat free foods.  I bought six large skinless, boneless chicken breasts, trimmed off any fat, and cooked them in the crock pot with one 14.5 ounce  can Swanson 99% Fat Free Chicken Broth and water to partially cover the chicken.   I cooked it in the crock pot to take and serve at the reunion.   What was left over, I drained and froze to use later in casseroles and  Chicken Noodle Soup.

Home-made Precooked Chicken Breasts and Broth.

Those precooked chicken breasts did not last long.  It was just too easy to go to the freezer and thaw one or two breasts for a quick evening meal.  The next time I prepared the chicken breasts, I seasoned them with a spice blend  Into the slow cooker I  added 1/2 cup sliced onions, 1/4 cup finely diced celery, arranged the seasoned chicken breasts on top of the vegetables and added the one 14.5 ounces can of chicken broth and water to almost cover.

Chicken Breasts seasoned with Netta Belle's Choice Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend

Chicken Breasts seasoned with Netta Belle’s Choice Flavour-Enhancer Spice Blend

The chicken was cooked on high for about 3 hours until  meat tested 165 F.  The tender flavorful chicken breasts were frozen and the broth was put into three pint jars to store in the refrigerator.  This makes such a rich and low fat broth to use in  sauces, for risottos,  rice, vegetables or soups

Cooked chicken breasts to freeze; canned broth

Cooked chicken breasts ready to freeze; canned broth.

Chicken vegetable soup is good, but isn’t chicken noodle soup suppose to be the answer to what ails you?  So this is was the inspiration for Slow-Cook  Chicken Noodle Soup recipe.

Although I do a lot of cooking, there have been some recipes I just don’t attempt.  Noodles has been one of them.  I guess the first endeavor they turned out tough and like shoe leather or leather shoe strings.  So some years later, I thought I would try them again.  This time it was success.  Using my mother’s recipe from her cookbook recipe box, I made noodles.

Home made egg noodles.

Home made egg noodles.

Egg Noodles

1 egg
1 tablespoon vegetable oil or olive oil
1 tablespoon milk or teaspoon more if needed.
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sifted flour

Beat the egg in a medium size bowl. Mix in the oil and milk.  Add the dry ingredients and blend with a fork. Work the dough into a ball. Lightly flour bread board and roll out thin. Cut into 2 inch strips, layer and cut into narrow strips. Allow to dry.

Note: My preference is a wider noodle, 1/2 inch. Drying time is about 1-2 hours before using them. What is not used, I bag and freeze. This makes a small batch of noodles.

Delectable Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Julia Ann
Enjoy a rich soup of chicken, vegetables and noodles to soothe you through the cold chill of winter.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 15 minutes
Course Soup
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large potato cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Instructions
 

  • Place the vegetables on the bottom of the crock pot.
  • Add the diced chicken
  • Add the broth.
  • Cook about 1 hour on low or until boiling.
  • Add the noodles, stir.
  • Continue cooking on low for about 3 hours or until the noodles are done.
  • Serve immediately.

Notes

Recipe for precooked chicken breasts and egg noodles are in the Blog content.
Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring
you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office. “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Add to your meal:

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox

Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experiencee.  ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.”Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

 

Netta Belle’s Choice for a budget meal.

Macaroni, chicken and cheese casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole, the ultimate comfort food.

Have you ever had a week longer than your food in the house or the money in your wallet and pay day isn’t here yet?  I thought I was through with those times forever.  However!  I am now retired.  The pay isn’t as good as it was when I worked 40+ hrs a week for someone else.

Well, this has been the dilemma in our house of two this week.  It is amazing what new things can be cooked up with the same foods.  I use leftovers and create new dishes which means I usually end up with more leftovers.  You may not relate, but I am sure many of your parents or grandparents can relate to using everything you have before getting new.  Well, food does not really fall in that category – just left overs.

I like to cook up several boneless, skinless chicken breasts with seasoned low-fat chicken broth or water in the slow cooker.  They can be bagged in freezer bags and pulled out only what is needed for a meal for two.  Of course, I save the broth for soups in glass cans stored in the refrigerator.

This time I had some ricotta cheese, some Colby Jack cheese and a green bell pepper. Oh yes, the cornbread from the day before. Luck would have it, I did not have an onion, hey, that is why the onion powder is on the shelf.

Talk about need for comfort food!   Well, here comes the macaroni, chicken and cheese.  It was tasty, filling with a gelatin fruit salad and green beans and budget casserole.  Not feeling too deprived, we had chocolate chip cookies and sherbet.

For those budget strapped beginners in the world, couples, families,  the retiree or just tightening the budget belt out of need, look at your leftovers and get creative.  Here is one of my solutions.

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Julia Ann
An easy on your pocketbook comfort dish for the family. It is one of those recipes, having leftovers is a good dilemma.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 4 cups boiling water
  • 1 cup whole wheat elbow macaroni uncooked
  • 1 teaspoon Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup flour
  • 2 cups low-fat milk
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup chicken breast cooked and diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1/2 cup green bell peppers diced in 1/2 inch pieces.
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese or your choice
  • 1/2 cup crumbed cornbread
  • 1/4 cup shredded Colby Jack cheese
  • Dill weed to sprinkle on top
  • Paprika to sprinkle on top

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F.
  • Grease a 9 x 9 casserole dish.
  • Cook the macaroni in the water according to package directions.
  • Drain the macaroni, do not rinse. Set aside.
  • Warm the milk in microwave for 2 minutes, let set until ready to use.
  • Use a large sauce pan to melt the butter to bubbling.
  • Sprinkle in flour; use a whisk to blend the roux (thickening paste.)
  • Cook over low heat.
  • Add seasonings, chicken breast and green pepper.
  • Stir with a wooden spoon to blend together.
  • Remove from heat, stir in the ricotta cheese and shredded Colby Jack cheese.
  • Stir until the cheese has melted and sauce blended.
  • Pour the cooked and drained macaroni into the cheese sauce, stir gently.
  • Pour into greased casserole dish.
  • Spread the crumbled cornbread evenly over the top.
  • Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the cornbread.
  • Sprinkle the dill week and paprika to your taste on top.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes or until the sauce is bubbling and cheese is melted.
  • Let set about 5 minutes before serving

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.
©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole

Macaroni, Chicken and Cheese Casserole – a budget comfort food dish.

Related Recipes:

This was inspired by a recipe from Food.com Recipe #454932.

Netta Belle's Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

Netta Belle’s Choice Sea Salt Purified, Granular White Crystalline Pacific Ocean Salt and Pure Granulated Black Pepper

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

Simply Salads by cookbookinabox

cookbookinabox trip to the Farmer's Market

cookbookinabox trip to the Farmer’s Market

Simply Salads of fresh vegetables and fruit combined can be the center of lunch or part of an elaborate dinner.  Fresh vegetables and fruit can show up in the whole meal or menu.  Check out the menu below.

A trip to the local farmer’s market makes a bountiful supply of fresh vegetables and fruit for gourmet and ordinary cooking.  Road side stands, city markets, farmer’s markets, co-operative groceries and big name grocery stores are teeming with produce. Check out your community to find the foods for healthy eating.

Which recipe would you like to make?  Look for the heading “Recent Recipes” in the right column for these dishes listed below. Or use the category search.

       Select a recipe from each of the following list of foods to plan a menu for dinner.

Appetizer:  Celery and carrot sticks, pineapple chunks and strawberries

    Bread:  Sweet Potato & Cranberry Nut Bread or Sweet Wheat Bread

       Soup:  Summer Vegetable Soup or Corn and Mushroom Chowder

           Salad:  Cabbage Apple Slaw  or Vegetable Fusilli Salad

               Entree:  Asparagus Tart or Collard Greens, Corn and Tortilla Strata

                   Vegetable:  Braised Carrots & Fennel,   Savory Baked Corn

                        Dessert:  Chocolate Cake or Apple Cobbler

                            Snack:  Molasses Cookies or Grand Canyon Hermit Cookies

How about quick and easy salads?

                                 Simply Salads by cookbookinabox®

Tomato avacado simple salad_0953Tomato, avocado and large pitted black olives are sprinkled with lime juice. To add more color serve it on a bed of romaine lettuce or spinach.  Need more veggies, try chopping scallions on top. Serve with your favorite salad dressing. Asparagus Tart and this simple salad would make a good luncheon or brunch meal.

Pear orange simple salad _3797Red Bartlett pear and a naval orange are diced with chopped red onion, feta cheese and chopped walnuts on top.  Anjou or Bosc pears, pecans or even add dried cranberries or cherries for another quick simple salad.  Use a sweet vinaigrette dressing. The Microwaved Steamed Salmon with Bok Choy is an easy entree to serve with Simply Salads by cookbookinabox.

Orange almond simple salad_3727Salad or dessert, a little of each,  a layered fruit salad of green grapes halves, pineapple chunks, diced navel oranges and sprinkling of toast almonds and coconut flakes on top.  The juice provide its own dressing.  This simple salad would be a sweet ending to the Corn and Mushroom Chowder.

As cooks, we sometimes get so caught up trying to give the best tasting gourmet dinner and an stunning  eye-appealing  presentation we get overwhelmed and frazzled.  Try some of the suggested Simply Salads by cookbookinabox® with any of the Recent Recipes listed on the side.

Recipes are free online.  You may reach it by www.cookbookinabox.com/blog or cookbookinabox.com.  Also follow us and Like us on Facebook.   Give us a a like on G+.

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Julia Ann and cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience. ©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk. Off. Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.  “Netta Belle’s Choice® The Art of Gourmet Cookery® cookbookinabox® All rights reserved.

 

Cabbage Apple Slaw Netta Belle’s Choice

 

One of the advantages of social media food communities, it gets me out of my box.  I look at all the food pictures and the recipes which give me ideas.  Some I don’t adventure into as they are beautiful, but  I am not ready to attempt.  Those are usually beautiful to look upon are desserts and too fattening, but would be oooh so good. Hurrah for the chefs and creators!

Cabbage Apple Slaw

I saute shredded cabbage and apples with caraway seed. Why not try apple salad ingredients with shredded cabbage.  I like to use Gala apples or Golden Delicious apples, use the apple of your choice. Cabbage Apple Slaw is a salad give many benefits to health.

Health Benefits

*Cabbage is high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, antioxidants for protection against disease.
Apples provide fiber to maintain digestive health.
Walnuts are high in vitamin E, copper and magnesium are heart-healthy nutrients.
Celery is recommended to lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
Sunflower seeds contain plant sterols which can lower LDL cholesterol.
Raisins provide potassium, fiber and iron, also to promote better heart health.
Ginger aids in digestion, relieve motion sickness, and arthritis relief.

Cabbage Apple Slaw

Cabbage Apple Slaw-Netta Belle’s Choice

Cabbage Apple Slaw Netta Belle's Choice

Julia Ann
A heart-healthy crispy salad of cabbage, apples, celery and walnuts. A salad for all seasons.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Course Salads
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups shredded white cabbage

Instructions
 

  • Put the shredded cabbage in a large bowl.
  • Dice the apples, stir in the lemon juice to prevent browning of the apples.
  • Add apples to the bowl of cabbage.
  • Add the celery, walnuts, sunflower seeds, raisins and ginger.
  • DRESSING
  • Heat the honey 10 seconds in microwave to liquefy honey to enhance blending.
  • Stir in the lemon juice, mayonnaise and celery seed.
  • Blend ingredients to smooth sauce,
  • Pour over the cabbage apple slaw and stir to mix.
  • Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring
you great recipes for your cooking experience.
©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved..
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

*Yeager, Selene and the Editors of Prevention, The Doctors Book® of Food Remedies. 2007.

 

 

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com.  All rights reserved.

 

Netta Belle’s Choice Upside-Down Cake

 

Ready to enjoy Peach Upside Down Cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Ready to enjoy Peach Upside-Down Cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Don’t you like it when you find a quick recipe and make little changes you have another delicious dessert?  This is how I think of the Netta Belle’s Choice® Upside-Down Cake. It is the same basic cake layer dressed up to which ever fruit is in season.  I started out with just making pineapple upside down cakes, then did not have pineapple.  Blueberries were in season and later peaches.  So 2 new cakes were added to my Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® Recipe Box.

 Peach Upside Down Cake

Putting peaches into the plate

Putting peaches into the plate

Pouring cake batter over peaches.

Pouring cake batter over peaches.

Peach Upside Down Cake

Peach Upside-Down Cake

Ready to enjoy Peach Upside Down Cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Ready to enjoy Peach Upside-Down Cake with a scoop of ice cream.

Netta Belle's Choice Upside-Down Cake

Julia Ann
A quick and easy dessert of a moist butter cake dressed up with seasonal sweeten fruit on top.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter melted

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven 350 F. Preheat a sheet of foil on the lower shelf to catch drippings.
  • Grease a 10-inch deep dish pie plate.
  • TOPPING:
  • Peel and slice the peaches into the lemon juice.
  • Mix the melted butter and brown sugar in a small bowl.
  • Spread this on the bottom of greased pie plate.
  • Arrange the toasted almonds on top of the butter and sugar
  • Drain the peaches, dry off any excess juices.
  • Arrange the peach slices over almonds and butter/ brown sugar mixture.
  • CAKE BATTER:
  • Whisk together all the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt and spices.
  • In a larger bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
  • Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition.
  • Beat in the almond extract.
  • Alternate adding the flour and milk, beating after each addition until well blended.
  • Spread the cake batter evenly over the peaches.
  • Bake in the middle of the oven for 45-55 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
  • Cool the cake on a rake for 15 minutes.
  • Run a knife around the edge to loosen cake, invert cake onto a platter.
  • Serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice®  bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.©2007- 2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

Bluleberry Upside Down Cake _750 To get your creative juices flowing, here are a some pictures of other fruit ideas. Humm… I think I will make the cake, put it on a platter and slather it with whip cream and cover it with fresh strawberries and drizzle chocolate on top.  Go to go! Cake, strawberries and whip cream are awaiting.  ENJOY  your choice Upside-Down Cake.

 

cookbookinabox® in partnership with Netta Belle’s Choice® bring you great recipes for your cooking experience.

Netta Belle's Choice cookbookinabox©2007-2018 Netta Belle’s Choice® cookbookinabox® “Reg. U.S. Pat. & Trdmk.Off.” Reg. “Trade-marks Canadian Intellectual Property Office.” nettabelleschoice.com and cookbookinabox.com. All rights reserved.