Electric Skillet Date Night Meal

My sweetheart has had a rough week at work this week (the higher ups are debating layoffs so she's stressing). Tomorrow she has the night off and I told her that I would cook a nice romantic meal for us. (luckily my roommate has a date, so it’ll just be the two of us). I called my mom and asked what would be a good meal for a romantic, relaxing dinner. Mom told me to find the Presto Skillet that she gave me when I moved out. Then she told me to check my email for her recipe, below is what she sent:

Billy,

Here are my suggestions for your date night!

Recipe for a Romantic Meal:

Items Needed (not for recipe):
Candles
Lighter or Matches
Table Cloth
Cloth Napkins
NICE Plates (if you need some Billy, come over I have some in storage that aren’t nearly as chipped as yours are, and NO you cannot use paper plates)

Recipe #1

Chicken Milano

Ingredients:

• 1 c. cooked regular or possibly Minute rice
• 2 whole boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks
• 2 tbsp. butter
• 1 med. onion sliced
• 2 teaspoon garlic pwdr
• 1 (10 3/4 ounce.) can condensed tomato soup
• 1 sm. can liquid removed mushrooms
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper, optional

Directions:
In your skillet cook the onion & garlic in butter over medium heat, cook until the onion is tender. Stirring occasionally. Add chicken & cook until it is lightly browned on both sides, stirring frequently. Stir in tomato soup and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling on high. Reduce to low, cover and simmer for 20 min, stirring often. Spoon mix over rice.

Recipe #2

(This one will be easy for you)

Get a nice looking Cesar Bag Salad. Get some Cesar Dressing. Put in a nice bowl that looks like you made the salad. Dispose of bag so that she will not find it.

Dessert:

Come by when you get the plates. I’ll have some red velvet cupcakes for ya’ll.

Love,
MOM

Oh yeah that’s right, I have the best Mom ever. (Free cupcakes are always awesome, and she makes them just right). And it doesn’t hurt that she loves my current girlfriend and keeps reminding me not to mess things up with this one.  LOL.

So Presto Skillet, I’m dusting you off and we are breaking bad and cooking tomorrow.

Presto Skillet Desires

I’m thinking about buying myself a new Presto skillet, I have found several different brands, but it seems to me that Presto has a large variety to choose from at decent prices (plus I already own some Presto products and haven’t had any trouble with them). I feel that having one of these little cooking machines would come in handy. Easier to clean than the stove, and handier than a regular skillet it seems. In case you are curious here is what what Presto has to choose from:

Presto Electric Skillet 11 Inch
Presto Electric Skillet 16 Inch
Presto 12 Inch Electric Stainless Steel Skillet
Presto Electric Skillet 16 Inch with Glass Cover

They are all good looking to me but the one that interests me the most is the Presto 12 Inch Electric Stainless Steel Skillet.  The first reason is because it is stainless and would match my other appliances, my personal opinion is that it looks more expensive and attractive than the others…anyway it has such a smooth surface, the food should just slip and slide with ease no sticking! Also, because it is stainless steel, I don’t have to worry about that nonstick stuff flaking off in my food and while washing. It even says in the description that it is fully immersable with the heat control removed and that it is dishwasher safe, and very easy to take care of.  It fries, grills, roasts, stews, bakes, makes casseroles, one-dish meals, and who know what all else this bad boy can do (ever seen Transformers? LOL). This particular one impresses me because it has a glass cover so that I can keep an eye on it which is easier than needing to lift the lid every time and letting heat escape. The Control Master heat control keeps accurate cooking temperatures automatically, neato!
And to top it all off I’ve already found a deliciously sounding bad for the arteries recipe for whichever electric skillet I decide to purchase. 
Yumm:

Oriental Hamburger Casserole

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 (10 1/2-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 (ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup chow mein noodles

Preheat electric skillet at 325°. Add ground beef and onion. Brown well. Add remaining ingredients except noodles. Bring to a boil. Turn heat control down until pilot light goes out. Cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with chow mein noodles. Heat through.