Cooking With Shazia

Home cooking can be approachable & enjoyable

MAIN DISHES

BAKED SALMON

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It may seem a little intimidating to bake an entire fillet of salmon. I don’t think you can actually go wrong with making fish. It cooks/bakes very fast, so it does make an easy meal to put together. I like baking the whole fillet because you can have it with different meals. My kids love baked fish with rice with a lot of lemon. My husband is usually always on a diet so he enjoys it with brown rice. So it’s very nice to make some main meal components with some sides. This way you won’t feel like you are eating the same thing after meal prepping, it will give you some options.

Salmon turns a beautiful opaque color as it cooks. It also will flake easily when it’s done baking. You don’t want to bake it longer or else it will loose moisture and will be tough. You can definitely use smaller fillets as well. I just happen to pick up this large one.

You can enjoy this with a side of white/brown rice and roasted veggies. Salmon also works great in tacos and in salads.

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HOMEMADE EASY CHICKEN BROTH

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We all have heard from someone to have chicken soup when we are sick.  Chicken soup is delicious but it’s the actual broth that brings all the flavor and nutrition to the soup.  Stock is made from the bones, meat, veggies and aromatics that are simmered for hours.  You are basically extracting minerals, collagen, gelatin from these bones.  Stock and broth are not any new remedies, they have been consumed by people for years.  But I don’t think this amazing liquid needs to be only made in winter or when you are under the weather.  I have been making this stock regularly.  It’s really beneficially for your immune system, your gut.  I add it so many dishes especially for the kids to keep their immune systems running well.  I especially keep an eye out for organic chicken on sale.  Homemade chicken stock is amazing, you can literally just drink a cup.  It’s actually so easy to make a small batch and use it in your everyday dishes or even freeze.  I think once you are making your own you will hardly reach for the one at the grocery store.  Not only will you be making easy homemade stock but you can use the shredded chicken in many recipes like, soup, chili, tacos, salads.  It’s a great way to meal prep.

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EASY PASTA BAKE WITH MEAT SAUCE

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Hi Friends! I hope everyone had an easy transition for back to school week.  My little ones are 1st and 4th grade and they are just loving it.  During the summer our schedule is all over the place, staying up late, sleeping in, meal prep is not happening at all.  But now it’s back to schedule and meal prep is in full swing.  I really try to get the meal plan for the week done on the weekends and anything I can cook or prep helps during the week.  Cooking for the day I try to do in the mornings because homework or afterschool activities take up most evenings.  This recipe is a regular in our household for these busy school weeks.  It’s wholesome, it’s versatile you can add any veggies in it as well.  For quick meals I love using premade Italian sauce but adding fresh onion and garlic to it.  But you could definitely use a homemade pasta sauce as well.  This dish also feeds a crowd, another reason it’s my go-to.  Kids love it served with garlic bread. I hope you try it and let me know how it was. Enjoy!

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CHILI LIME CHICKEN STIR FRY RICE

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I have noticed that it’s a little bit more difficult for me to get my kids to try different cuisines or flavors when we are eating out.  If I have introduced them to certain flavors at home they are more willing to try it when we are out.  I am not sure why that is. Asian flavors are definitely one flavor that  I can’t get them to enjoy at restaurants.  But when I do make stir fry, noodles, fried rice they seem to really like it.  I think it’s really nice for kids to be able to eat a wide variety of flavors, it definitely makes it easy when you go out to eat.  But I also understand that will always not be the case.  I know I am a little picky when it comes to trying different cuisines, I tend to stick to my comfort level.  This dish was a hit for my kids.  I really enjoy cooking meals that come together in minutes.  I would say this is one of those meals.  If you are into meal prepping you can boil the rice ahead of time.  Next day rice makes the best fried rice because they hold the shape and don’t get mushy.  You can also use roisterer chicken and add any veggies you have on you hand.

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CHICKEN TENDERLOIN PICCATA WITH EGG NOODLES

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It’s great to have options when it comes to preparing chicken.  I think it can be a challenge sometimes to flavor chicken, especially chicken breast.  Recently I have found myself using chicken tenderloins in many recipes. They are moist, take no time to cook up and kids love them as well.   This recipe is my take on chicken piccata.  Chicken piccata is a dish that originated in Italy.  Piccata is a way of preparing food, usually meat is sliced, coated in some type of breading, sautéed and than finished in a sauce.  I have used chicken tenderloins, you can use thinly sliced chicken breast or pound chicken breast so it’s thinner and cooks evenly.  It’s all about this lemon buttery sauce poured over the chicken and fluffy egg noodles….

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BAKED TILAPIA

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This baked tilapia is delicious, and perfect for a healthy diet. My kids love tilapia because it doesn’t have a fishy smell.

BAKED TILAPIA
 
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Author:
Recipe type: Main Dish
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 3-4 tilapia fillets
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 1 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
  • 1 tsp. lemon pepper
  • Salt/ pepper to taste
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 3 tbsp. olive oil
  • Zest of 1lemon & thinly sliced
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven 425 degrees F
  2. Mix all spices & lemon zest with olive oil. It will be like a thick paste.
  3. Pat fish dry. Rub spice mixture on all the fillets.
  4. Place 2 lemon slices on each fillet (optional you can just squeeze the lemon juice but I like the roasted lemon)
  5. Place fish on foiled or sprayed baking sheet . Bake for 25 min or until fish flakes with fork. My fillets were pretty thick. If you are using the thin fillets baking time will be less.
  6. Enjoy!

 

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

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Guys this is such an easy weeknight meal not to mention sooo delicious. You can use rotisserie chicken, leftover chicken or ground beef very versatile

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
 
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Author:
Cuisine: Main Dish
Serves: 6-8
Ingredients
  • 1 med onion chopped
  • 1 tbsp. veg oil
  • 3 garlic cloves chopped
  • 2 cups cooked chopped chicken I used 2 med chicken breasts
  • 1 4oz can chopped green chilies
  • 2 10oz cans red enchilada sauce
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
  • 1 cup shredded 4 cheese blend or any you have on hand
  • 6 or 8 8-inch low carb flour tortillas or regular tortillas
  • Salt
  • Pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Sauté onion in 1 tbsp. hot oil in saucepan until tender & brown about 7min. Add garlic sauté for 10 seconds. Set aside
  3. Sprinkle chicken with salt/pepper drench in little bit of enchilada sauce. Heat few tablespoons in same sauce pan, cook chicken for 10-15mins depending on thickness of chicken. Once cooked chop or shred chicken.
  4. Stir chicken, onion/garlic, green chilies, cilantro, 1 cup enchilada sauce, ½ cup cheese.
  5. Spoon few tablespoon of mixture in each tortillas. Roll up put seam side down in lightly greased baking dish. You can fill 6 or 8 depending on how much each is filled.
  6. Pour other can of enchilada sauce over tortillas and rest ½ cup cheese. Bake covered for 15mins. Than uncover and bake 10mins.
  7. Enjoy!
Notes
Serving size will depend on how many tortillas you will.