Dinner for the Original Copy Officer Captain Family and OCS of 270,036 Simple Meals for you to enjoy
- Katherine Victoria Vananderland
- Apr 22, 2021
- 5 min read
4/23/2021
An Italian Dinner party for the whole family to enjoy be blessed and refreshed in the beauty of today! Live your best life each second of the day and let the food heal you and make your mind shine! Enjoy this wonderful simple meal easy to make and easy on the budget. Be blessed you are on a higher order make a wish at 11:11am/pm and pray to your angels your thoughts and hopes and dreams!
Chicken Provolone, though one of my simplest dishes, is one of my husband’s favorites. It is easy to prepare and looks fancy served on a dark plate with a garnish of fresh parsley or basil. Add some buttered noodles for an easy side dish. —Dawn Bryant, Thedford, Nebraska
Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Butter-flavored cooking spray
8 fresh basil leaves
4 thin slices prosciutto or deli ham
4 slices provolone cheese
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Directions
Sprinkle chicken with pepper. In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, cook chicken over medium heat until a thermometer reads 165°, 4-5 minutes on each side.
Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet; top with the basil, prosciutto and cheese. Broil 6-8 in. from the heat until cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes.
Nutrition Facts 1 each: 236 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 89mg cholesterol, 435mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat.
We love eggplant Parmesan, but when it’s hot outside, the dish feels too heavy. Grilled eggplant slices topped with tomato, mozzarella and Parm satisfy everyone. —Joann Parlin, Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey
Ingredients
1 large eggplant (about 2 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 log (1 pound) fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into sixteen slices
1 large tomato, cut into eight slices
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Chopped fresh basil or parsley
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Directions
Trim ends of eggplant; cut eggplant crosswise into eight slices. Sprinkle with salt; let stand 5 minutes.
Blot eggplant dry with paper towels; brush both sides with oil and sprinkle with pepper. Grill, covered, over medium heat 4-6 minutes on each side or until tender. Remove from grill.
Top eggplant with mozzarella cheese, tomato and Parmesan cheese. Grill, covered, 1-2 minutes longer or until cheese begins to melt. Top with basil.
Nutrition Facts 2 eggplant stacks: 449 calories, 31g fat (18g saturated fat), 96mg cholesterol, 634mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 5g fiber), 26g protein.
My husband and I met at a cooking class. We have loved creating menus and entertaining ever since. These make-ahead antipasto skewers are always a hit. —Denise Hazen, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ingredients
1 package (9 ounces) refrigerated cheese tortellini
40 pimiento-stuffed olives
40 large pitted ripe olives
3/4 cup Italian salad dressing
40 thin slices pepperoni
20 thin slices hard salami, halved
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Directions
Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain and rinse in cold water. In a large bowl, combine the tortellini, olives and salad dressing. Toss to coat; cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Drain mixture, discarding marinade. For each appetizer, thread a stuffed olive, a folded pepperoni slice, a tortellini, a folded salami piece and a ripe olive on a toothpick or short skewer.
Nutrition Facts 1 kabob: 66 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 315mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 2g protein.
Perk up gnocchi and vegetables with a flavorful pesto sauce. If you don't have pine nuts for the topping, skip or substitute any nut you like. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ingredients
1 package (16 ounces) potato gnocchi
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 cup diced zucchini
1/2 cup chopped sweet yellow pepper
1/4 cup prepared pesto
1 cup chopped tomatoes
Toasted pine nuts, optional
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Directions
Cook gnocchi according to package directions; drain.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; saute zucchini and pepper until zucchini is tender.
Add pesto and gnocchi, stirring gently to coat. Stir in tomatoes. If desired, top with pine nuts.
Editor's Note
Look for potato gnocchi in the pasta or frozen foods section.
Nutrition Facts 1 cup: 327 calories, 9g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 682mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 4g fiber), 9g protein.
We toss romaine with chunks of mango, avocado, sugar snap peas, red onion and a homemade honey-lime dressing. A little toasted coconut sprinkled on top adds extra texture. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Ingredients
3 cups torn romaine
1-1/2 cups fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed
1 medium mango, peeled and cubed
1 medium ripe avocado, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
DRESSING:
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
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Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk honey, lime zest, lime juice and oil until blended. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Sprinkle with coconut. Serve immediately.
Editor's Note
To toast coconut, bake in a shallow pan in a 350° oven for 5-10 minutes or cook in a skillet over low heat until golden brown, stirring occasionally.
Nutrition Facts 1 cup: 191 calories, 10g fat (3g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 28mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 5g fiber), 3g protein.
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
GLAZE:
5 teaspoons cornstarch
1-1/4 cups unsweetened pineapple juice
1 teaspoon lemon juice
TOPPINGS:
1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups halved fresh strawberries
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained
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Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, mix flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Press onto an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Bake until very lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.
In a small saucepan, mix glaze ingredients until smooth; bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Cool slightly.
In a bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over crust. Top with berries and mandarin oranges. Drizzle with glaze. Refrigerate until cold.
Nutrition Facts 1 slice: 170 calories, 9g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 120mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1/2 fruit.
I first tried tres leches cake while in Ecuador several years ago. Since then, I’ve changed it up by adding some of my favorite ingredients, namely chocolate and coconut. This version also has a splash of rum for an adults-only treat. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Ingredients
1 package chocolate cake mix
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
1/4 cup rum
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, toasted
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Chocolate syrup, optional
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Directions
Preheat oven to 350°. Prepare and bake cake mix according to package directions, using a 13x9-in. baking pan. Cool on a wire rack.
Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk milks, 1/2 cup cream and rum. With a wooden skewer, poke holes in cake about 1/2 in. apart. Slowly pour milk mixture over cake, allowing mixture to absorb into cake. Let stand 30 minutes. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight.
In a small bowl, beat remaining cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Spread over top of cake. Sprinkle with coconut and pecans. If desired, drizzle servings with chocolate syrup.
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