Sweet & Sour Turkey Meatballs

I just used the Jennie-O Turkey Meatballs and used a sauce recipe from AllRecipes.com

Sauce:
1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 large carrot, diced
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces


Directions:

1. To make the sauce, mix enough water with the reserved pineapple juice to make 1 cup. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the juice mixture, 1/3 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Stir in cornstarch, ginger and seasoning salt, until smooth. Cover and cook until thickened.

1. Stir pineapple chunks, carrot, green pepper and meatballs into the sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until meatballs are thoroughly cooked.

French Fried Onion Pasta

I got the recipe for the French Fried Onion Pasta from the website "Salad in a Jar":
http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/family-recipes/scooters-spaghetti

The recipe calls for spaghetti but I choose to use a different type of pasta: penne, bowtie, etc. 

French Fried Onion Pasta:

• 8 ounces uncooked spaghetti
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 large can spaghetti sauce (26.5 ounces)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ cup chopped green peppers (I usually omit or substitute red peppers)
• ⅓ cup chopped onions
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons milk
• Fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• French-fried onions (small can)

Instructions

1. Cook spaghetti according to directions on the package. Cook to al dente, drain and set aside.
2. Brown ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add spaghetti sauce to skillet and heat.
3. Combine onions, peppers and butter in small glass bowl. Cover and microwave 4 minutes on HIGH until soft.
4. Add cream cheese and milk to vegetables and stir well. (If cream cheese is not soft, nuke it for 20-30 seconds to make it easy to spread.)
5. Using a 12 x 8-inch baking dish (or something close), assemble in the following order: thin layer of spaghetti sauce, cooked spaghetti, cream cheese/vegetable mixture, remaining spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese (amount subject to your own taste)
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Top with french-fried onions and continue baking 5 more minutes. (This is the secret ingredient–don’t let them burn.)

Notes

Make this ahead of time and refrigerate or freeze without the French Fried onions. Don’t forget to add them 5 minutes before casserole is finished cooking. 

Sticky Chicken & Chow Mein

I got the recipe for the sticky chicken from the website "Everyday Tastes": http://www.everydaytastes.com/2012/01/29/sticky-chicken-in-the-slow-cooker/

The recipe for the chow mein came from the website "The Hostess with the Mostess":http://www.hwtm.com/recipe_box/vegetablechowmein

Sticky Chicken:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons of minced ginger
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
3 lbs chicken, breast, thighs, legs, etc.
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup tomato paste

Combine 1/4 cup sugar,  2 tablespoon soy sauce , ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.  Place in a slow cooker and cook on low for about 4 hours or until done.  When done place chicken in a broiler proof dish.  Combine remaining 1/2 cup sugar, water, and tomato paste, and remaining soy sauce. Brush on chicken and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes or until chicken is slightly crisp.  Keep a close watch on the chicken under the broiler.

Chow Mein:
100 gms (3.5 oz) egg noodles
1 medium-sized onion, thinly sliced
1 cup mushrooms, sliced
1 cup cabbage, thinly shredded
1 medium-sized green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tsp ginger, finely chopped
1 tsp garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp light cooking oil
1 tsp pure sesame oil
2 tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/2 tsp black pepper
salt, to taste

BOIL noodles, drain and toss in sesame oil. Set aside to cool.

HEAT oil in a wok and saute ginger and garlic till fragrant. Add onions and mushrooms, and fry till mushrooms give out moisture and cook through.

ADD salt, black pepper, white pepper, cabbage and green peppers, and stir-fry for a minute.

THROW in the pre-boiled noodles and soya sauce and toss to coat evenly with veggies.