Easy as 1-2-3

Pork Chops or Chicken: Pop 'em In the Oven

Some nights you just need a simple dish that requires little prep and gives you an hour to unwind. This is the perfect dish for those lazy, carefree evenings.

Using a deep baking dish, add the following ingredients and bake @ 400 degrees for approximately one hour. Keep covered for the first 50-55 minutes; the last 10 minutes or so, uncover the dish and cook until moisture evaporates and the top layer is crispy.

• Choose your meat: lean pork chops OR boneless, skinless chicken breasts (2-4 pieces)
• 1 can of cream of mushroom soup (low sodium if you prefer)
• 1 can of green beans (drain before mixing)
• 1 cup of uncooked rice (white)
  
• 1 cup of water
• Once, mixed-- sprinkle ground pepper and seasoning salt to the top layer
  
• Optional (cut up about 1/2- 1 cup of fresh mushrooms)
• Optional (cut up additional fresh asparagus and/or green beans-- about 1 cup)

After the dish is baked, let stand for about 5-10 minutes. Serve with frosty cold milk.

A New Mahi-Mahi Favorite

Ginger Glazed- yum!

• 3 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
• 1 clove garlic, crushed or to taste
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets
• 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper (each)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• Optional (cut up one fresh green onion, and sprinkle the remaining chives)
• Optional- sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds

1. In a shallow glass dish (or Ziploc bag), stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish (or baggie). If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to marinate.
2. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.** optional-- add the chopped green onion). Remove fish from the dish, and reserve marinade. Fry fish for 4 to 6 minutes on each side, turning only once, until fish flakes easily with a fork. Remove fillets to a serving platter and keep warm (using foil).
3. Pour reserved marinade into the skillet, and heat over medium heat until the mixture reduces to a glaze consistently. Spoon glaze over fish, and serve immediately.** optional-- add chives and toasted sesame seeds.

Serve over rice with either fresh green beans or asparagus.

Diane's Goulash

This is a dish Rick learned from Diane. Every time he was at their home visiting, he would scarf this meal down-- even if it was weeks old. It's an easy one and makes several meals for two people.

In a large frying pan, brown 2 lbs raw burger, 1 cup of chopped onion, 1 1/2 cups of chopped celery. Brown all on medium heat. When all is cooked, drain excess fat.

Combine in a baking dish for the oven or in a crock pot:

• Hamburger mixture
  
• 2 medium cans of mixed vegetable (drain liquid off vegetables before adding)
• 2 10 oz cans of cream of mushroom soup
• 1 10 oz can of chicken with rice soup
• 6 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 2 cups of dry chow mien noodles

Mix all together in the baking dish. Bake in the oven at 350 for 1 hour or low on crock pot for several hours.