Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Jen's Brownies

1/2 C butter (or 6 TB butter/2 TB applesauce)
1 C white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 C flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder

Icing (put on 5 min after you take pan out of oven)
3 TB butter
3 TB cocoa powder
1 TB honey
1 tsp vanilla
1 C powder sugar

Bake at 350 for 25-30 min until fork comes out clean. 

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Navajo tacos

12 Rhodes Texas™ Rolls, thawed & risen (the equivalent of 18 regular Rhodes dinner rolls)
vegetable oil for frying
1/2 pound ground beef
4 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup picante sauce or salsa
1 clove garlic, minced
2 cups canned pinto beans
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
sour cream, if desired
Flatten each roll to a 6-inch circle. Fry in vegetable oil at 375°F until golden brown, turning over once (about 30 seconds). Drain on paper towels.
Fry ground beef, drain off fat. Add onion and fry until onions are clear.
Add salsa, minced garlic and beans; heat through. Do not over cook.
Spoon desired amount over warm fried dough. Top with grated cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and green onion. If desired, add more salsa and sour cream.

Chicken lo Mein

1 – 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, sliced very thinly

Marinade:

1 Tb soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp cornstarch
Sauce:
2 Tb oyster sauce
2 tsp soy sauce
4 Tb beef broth
1 Tb granulated sugar
8 ounces linguine, prepared to al dente
1 tsp sesame oil
1/4 cup canola oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped cabbage, such as Napa
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1-2 cups bean sprouts
3 green onions, sliced in 1 inch segments, white and green parts
*note: I like to chop up the white parts small and leave the green parts in longer pieces

Combine marinade ingredients with the chicken and allow to sit for 20 minutes. While the chicken is marinating, prepare the remaining ingredients.
In a small bowl, combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, beef broth, and sugar. Set aside.
Boil noodles as per package instructions. Drain the noodles and toss with the sesame oil.
Heat a wok (or large, deep frying pan) over medium-highheat. Add the 1/4 cup of oil. Add the chicken. Stir fry chicken until cooked – about 5 minutes. Remove from wok and set aside.
Add another 1 Tb of oil to the wok if needed. When the oil is hot, add the garlic. Stir-fry until garlic browns, then add the carrots. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, then add the shredded cabbage and mushrooms. Cook for 2 more minutes. Add the noodles, bean sprouts, and green onions and cook for about 2 more minutes.
Add the sauce to the wok. Return the chicken to the pan. Mix everything together and serve hot.

Loaded baked potato soup

INGREDIENTS:
4-5 medium russet baking potatoes
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, divided
6 cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/3 cup finely diced green onions
1/3 cup light sour cream
Toppings:
Sour cream
Shredded cheddar cheese
Chopped green onions
Cooked, diced bacon pieces
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Pierce the potatoes all over with the tines of a fork. Place the potatoes directly on the oven rack and bake for about an hour, until tender and baked through. Remove the potatoes from the oven and let them sit for about 20 minutes, until they are cool enough to handle (or use an oven mitt if you don’t want to wait for them to cool slightly). Cut the potatoes in half and scoop out the insides of the potatoes. Place the potato chunks in a medium bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher until the potatoes are broken into smaller chunks.
In a large 4-quart pot, melt the butter over medium heat. When melted, add 1/4 cup of the flour and whisk to combine. Cook the mixture, whisking constantly, for 2 minutes until lightly browned. In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the milk and remaining 1/4 cup flour. Gradually whisk the mixture into the pot, and cook until thick and bubbling, about 6-8 minutes. Stir in the potato chunks and salt and pepper. Whisk in the cheddar cheese until it is completely melted. Stir in the green onions and sour cream. Serve immediately with desired toppings.

Breadstick and Pizza Casserole

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, green, red or yellow
2 medium zucchini, cut into rounds
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes, drained
16 ounces tomato sauce
9-12 ounces fully cooked chicken or turkey sausages, sliced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 recipe homemade breadstick dough (see note above)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9X13-inch baking dish and set aside.
In a large non-stick skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and diced pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 4-5 minutes, until the onion is translucent and the pepper is tender. Add the zucchini and garlic. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until just tender. Stir in the drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken sausage, basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes until the liquid is somewhat reduced. Add 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and stir into the mixture. Spoon half of the sauce mixture into the prepared dish. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese over the top. Spoon the other half of the sauce over the top of the cheese and sprinkle another 1/2 cup mozzarella over the top. Arrange bread sticks in a lattice pattern (see pictures below) over the sauce, trimming to fit, if necessary. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan and mozzarella on top.
Bake 25-30 minutes, until the breadsticks are golden brown and cooked through and the filling is hot and bubbly. Let stand 5-10 minutes before serving.

Italian calzone wrap

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 large onion chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound hot Italian sausage
1-2 red bell peppers (1 large or 2 small)
2 teaspoons chopped sundried tomatoes
1 pound fresh mozarella, cut into 1/2″ cubes
1 cup chopped basil leaves
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
marinara (optional)
Tortillas (Tortilla Land uncooked tortillas shells are my favorite)
In a medium skillet, heat oil. Add onion, cook on low for 2 minutes. Add garlic and sausage, crumble as you cook, stirring 3-5 minutes. Drain off excess fat at this point. Add red bell peppers and sundried tomatoes. Cook a few more minutes. Add mozarella and basil leaves. Toss, put the lid on pan and let cheese melt. This only takes a minute or two (cheese will go stringy if left on heat too long). Cook tortilla shells as directed and top with filling. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, wrap it up and serve immediately.

Chicken and Butternut squash quinoa stew

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
4 cloves garlic, finely minced
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
1 can (14-oz) petite or regular diced tomatoes
3 cups chopped butternut squash (about 1 medium squash, peeled and seeded)
2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1-2 cups chopped fresh spinach
DIRECTIONS:
In a large 4 quart pot heat the olive oil until hot. Add the chopped onions, oregano, and garlic. Saute for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until the onion is softened. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Add the chicken and boil until the chicken is cooked, 7-9 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate.
Add the tomatoes, butternut squash, and quinoa. Simmer for 15 minutes until the squash is tender and quinoa is cooked. If desired, scoop out some of the squash, mash it and return it to the pot. Shred the cooked chicken and return to the pot. Add the salt and pepper, adding more salt to taste, if needed. Stir in the spinach. Cook 1-2 minutes until the spinach is wilted. Serve warm.

cheesy broccoli orzo

1 cup orzo
1-1/2 cups chopped broccoli florets
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon butter
1/4-1/2 cup 2% milk
salt
Directions:
Add orzo to a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook for 3 minutes then add chopped broccoli and cook for 2 more minutes, or until orzo is tender. Drain well (broccoli florets are notorious for holding onto water) then return to the pot. Add cheeses, butter, and 1/4 cup milk then stir well and add more milk if needed. Season with salt to taste.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Mexican rice

1 cup of long grain white rice
2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 cloves of garlic, finely minced
1/4 cup of tomato paste
1 tablespoon of lime juice, from about 1 lime
1/2 cup of freshly chopped cilantro
2 teaspoons cumin
Salt to taste
DIRECTIONS:
In a medium-sized pot, add rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil over high heat. Stir. Cover the pot, lower the heat to low and simmer for 17-20 minutes. Remove from heat and keep the pot covered for 5 more minutes.
While the rice is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook the onions in the hot oil for 10 minutes, until translucent and starting to brown. Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Stir in the tomato paste and cumin and cook for another minute or two. Mix in hot, cooked rice, lime juice and cilantro. Mix until well combined. Season to taste with salt. Serve immediately.

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

1/3 cup (3 oz.) cream cheese
1/4 cup green salsa
1 Tb fresh lime juice (1/2 lime)
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
3 Tb chopped cilantro
2 Tb sliced green onions
2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup grated pepperjack cheese
fajita size flour tortillas (or small corn tortillas)
cooking spray
kosher salt
Soften cream cheese in microwave for 20-30 seconds. Stir in green salsa, lime juice and spices until well mixed then add cilantro and green onions. Stir in shredded chicken and pepperjack cheese and combine well. **this can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line cookie sheet with Silpat (or tin foil, lightly sprayed with cooking oil).
Working with 3-4 tortillas at a time, briefly heat in microwave so they are more malleable and easier to work with. Any time you want to heat up tortillas, it’s a good idea to place a damp paper towel draped over a small stack of them in the microwave. If I have more than 5, I will place a damp paper towel in the middle of the stack as well. (To dampen a paper towel just get it wet then squeeze out any water.) When working with corn tortillas you especially need to make sure they are warmed up with the damp paper towel or else they will crack and split as soon as you roll them – very frustrating! When I make this recipe with corn tortillas I warm up a stack of 6 with one damp paper towel in the middle and the other over the top. Put them in the microwave for 40 seconds and they are perfect to work with.
Spoon 2-3 Tb of mixture in a row across the bottom third of tortilla, keeping 1/2 inch away from edge. This makes it possible to roll it up very tightly. Place taquitos seam side down on cookie sheet, making sure they are not touching. Lightly spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and edges start to turn golden brown.
Serve with your favorite salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Rice Pilaf

2 T. butter
1 c. uncooked rice
1/4 c. minced onion
1/3 c. finely chopped celery
3 c. hot chicken broth
2 T. fresh chopped parsley
1/4 c. slivered almonds

Melt butter in hot frying pan.  Add rice, onion, celery; stir and cook until slightly brown.  Add chicken broth.  Cover and simmer on low heat until moisture has been absorbed and rice is tender.  Add parsley and almonds just before serving. 

Monday, November 19, 2012

skillet lasagna

1/2 lb ground turkey (I never use a whole pkg from costco so I always have a bit left over)
dried onion, italian seasoning
1/2 onion diced
4-5 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 lbs ripe tomatos diced (about 9 med tomatoes)
2 carrots, shredded
1 small zucchini, shredded
about 4 T. pesto
2 big handfuls of spinach chopped
4-5 cloves garlic minced
1 cup cottage cheese
3 T. parm cheese
dried parsley
mozzarella cheese
salt and pepper
about 5 uncooked lasagna noodles
splash of cream

In a large skillet (that has a lid with it) brown the turkey with 2 cloves garlic, salt and pepper, a dash of italian seasoning, dried oinon. Remove the meat. in same skillet add the onion and rest of garlic. Saute until soft. add tomatoes, carrots and zuchini. add 2 T. Pesto, salt and pepper, dried onion italian seasoning. Cook for about 5 min until it becomes sauce like. Pour into bowl.d down to low/ med low.

Combine cottage cheese, parm, parsley, mozzerella, salt, pepper, and 2 T. pesto.
on medium low-low heat, In same skillet, add one cup of the sauce. break up 2 or 3 of the noodles in big pieces and lay over sauce. sprinkle half of the meat over. dollop half of the cottage cheese mix. sprinkle half of the spinach over the cottage. then add some mozerella. layer all over again. with the last cup of sauce, mix a splash of cream. pour over the top, and sprinkle the top with mozerella and parm. Simmer for 25 min with lid on.

Almond poppyseed pancakes

2 cups all-purpose flour--- I did 1 1/2 cup white, 1/2 cup wheat
1/4 cup poppyseeds
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk---I did 1 cup soy milk, 1/2 cup reg milk, and 1 1/2 TBS lemon juice
1 cup milk*
1/3 cup granulated sugar---I did about half of 1/3 c
2 large eggs
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp applesauce
2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 Recipe Almond Syrup
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted (optional)
Poppy seeds, for garnish (optional)


Directions:
Preheat a griddle to 350 degrees. In large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, poppy seeds, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate mixing bowl whisk together buttermilk, milk, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, applesauce, almond extract and vanilla extract for one minute. Pour buttermilk mixture into dry mixture and stir just until combine, batter should be slightly lumpy (just be careful not to over-mix so you'll have fluffy pancakes). Pour about 1/3 cup mixture at a time onto buttered preheated griddle (if you have a good non-stick griddle buttering isn't necessary). Flip pancake when golden on bottom (bubbles wont appear on the surface much with these pancakes so mostly you just need to check the bottom for color). Cook opposite side until golden. Serve warm drizzled with Almond Syrup and garnished with optional toasted, sliced almonds and a light sprinkling of optional poppy seeds.


*Note: if you like thinner pancakes I recommend adding an additional 3 Tbsp milk (which is what I prefer) and if you like really thick pancakes omitting 1/4 cup milk.

---The Syrup totally makes them! You have to make it when you make the pancakes!

Almond Syrup


Ingredients:
1/4 cup salted butter
1 cup granulated sugar---I did a little over half and it was plenty
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup buttermilk---did regular milk with lemon juice
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp almond extract


Directions:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in sugar, cream and buttermilk. Cook mixture, stirring frequently, until mixture begins to boil and sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and almond extract, whisk for about 10 seconds until mixture becomes foamy and frothy. Serve warm. Note: Mixture can be stored in the refrigerator up to one week and reheated before serving.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Pumpkin Blondies with Chocolate Chips

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice*
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin puree
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup pecans; roughly chopped (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9X13-inch pan with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang on each long side so the bars can be easily pulled out of the pan once they are done baking and cooling.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large bowl using a handheld electric mixer, cream the butter, applesauce, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Add pumpkin puree and mix until combined. Don’t worry if the mixture looks curdled – that’s completely fine!
Mix in the dry ingredients, stirring just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips and pecans (if using).
Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before lifting the bars out of the pan, cutting into squares and serving.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
1 medium onion, diced (any color)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1-2 jalapenos, minced
20 ounces ground turkey breast
8 ounces mushrooms, minced (about 2 heaping cups)
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoons pepper
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes*
1 28 ounce can tomatoes (not drained)
2 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
32 ounces beef broth (one box/carton)
1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (make sure you’re not using pumpkin pie filling :)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
*”Sweet potatoes” and “yams” are often sold interchangeably depending on what part of the country you live in. Just buy whichever one is orange :)
optional: sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro or green onion, and fresh lime juice for serving
Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapenos. Saute for about 5 minutes, until veggies are tender and fragrant. Add to slow cooker.
In same skillet, heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil. Add turkey and mushrooms and stir to combine. Sprinkle in cumin, salt, pepper, oregano, chili powder and smoked paprika. (note: the meat will taste very seasoned when done. Keep in mind these seasonings are not to flavor just the meat, they will season the entire pot of chili, so they are intentionally strong!) Add turkey mixture to slow cooker.
Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, broth, pumpkin, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to slow cooker and stir til combine. Place lid on pot and cook for 4-6 hours on high, or 8-10 on low. Slow-cookers vary greatly in temperature and cooking times, but really, the important thing to note is if the sweet potatoes are tender.
When done, turn off heat and let chili sit with lid off for 10-15 minutes to thicken. Season with additional salt to taste before serving. If desired, serve with sour cream, sliced avocados, and a small squirt of fresh lime juice, and any other toppings desired.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Baked French Toast

1 loaf sourdough bread (I used Pepperidge Farm)
8 eggs
2 cups milk (I used 1%)
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. vanilla

Topping:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1 stick cold butter, cut into pieces

1. Grease a 9x13 pan with butter. Tear bread into bite-size chunks and place evenly in the pan.
2. Mix together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge for several hours (I put mine in overnight....it was about 12 hours).
3. In a medium bowl mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until it all looks nice and crumbly (like small pebbles, according to P-Dub). Place in a ziploc bag and put in fridge.
4. When ready to bake, take pan and bag out of fridge. Remove wrap and evenly sprinkle the crumb mixture over the top. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees (or 45 minutes if you like it more soft and pudding-like).

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Baked Chicken Bacon Alfredo

8 oz. penne or bowtie pasta
1 recipe Guiltless Alfredo Sauce (1 16-oz. jar would work in a pinch)
2 chicken breasts, grilled and chopped (about 2 c. chopped chicken)
6 oz. (1/2 package) cooked bacon, chopped
1 14-oz. jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 c. chopped green onions (about 1 decent-sized bunch)
1 c. shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 350.
Prepare pasta according to package directions.
While pasta is cooking, prepare Guiltless Alfredo sauce. When pasta is done, drain and add to the sauce. Toss with chopped chicken, bacon, artichoke hearts, green onions, and 1/2 c. mozzarella. Season to taste.
Transfer mixture to an 8×8″ baking dish and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. mozzarella cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly.

chocolate granola bars

  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup local honey
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter
  • 1 cup oats (not quick oats)
  • 2 tablespoons wheat germ
  • 1/2 cup coconut
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips (Mini work best, but it doesn’t really matter.)
  • What to do:
    1. Melt the butter, peanut butter and honey in a pot over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. Turn off the burner when melted.
    2. Pour in the cup of oats and the wheat germ. Stir til combined.
    3. Wait til it cools and stir in the coconut and chocolate chips. Or, if you’re impatient with things like this, like I am, go ahead and dump it all right in. The result will be a more uniform chocolate taste.
    4. Pour into foil-lined 8 X 8 pan and stick in the fridge.
    5. Once cooled, flip out (the bars….not you) onto cutting board and cut to the size you like.

    Thursday, September 6, 2012

    Tonk's tri tip juice

    1/2 cup water
    1/4 cup olive oil
    1/4 cup lemon juice
    2 TBS sugar
    2 TBS soy sauce 
    1 TBS black pepper
    1 TBS seasoned salt
    1 TBS garlic powder
    1 TBS onion powder

    combine all ingredients the day before using to marinate your tri tip.  Store in the refrigerator.

    Monday, July 9, 2012

    chicken pot pie crumble

    INGREDIENTS:
    Chicken and Sauce:
    1 ½ pounds chicken (about three medium-size chicken breasts)
    2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
    1 tablespoons olive oil
    1 onion , chopped fine (about 1 cup)
    3-4 carrots, peeled and sliced (about 1 cup)
    2-3 stalks celery, chopped (about ½ cup)
    ½ teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon pepper
    4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
    ½ cup flour
    1 cup milk
    3/4 cup frozen peas

    Crumble Topping:

    2 cups all-purpose flour
    2 teaspoons baking powder
    3/4 teaspoon salt
    ½ teaspoon pepper
    1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    6 tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes and chilled
    3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    1 cup heavy cream
    DIRECTIONS:
    To prepare the chicken, place the chicken and broth in a large Dutch oven or pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Cook the chicken until it is just done (don’t overcook or it will dry out) – about 10-12 minutes. Alternately, if you are planning in advance, you can place the chicken and broth in a slow cooker and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours. Transfer the cooked chicken to a medium bowl. Pour the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a liquid measuring cup and reserve. Return the pot to the stovetop (no need to wash if you used it to cook the chicken).
    Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. Sprinkle the chilled butter pieces over the top of the flour. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, rub the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the Parmesan cheese. Add the cream and stir until just combined. Crumble the mixture into irregularly shaped pieces onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the crumble topping until fragrant and starting to brown, about 15 minutes, tossing halfway through. Set aside.
    For the filling, heat the olive oil in the now-empty pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, celery, salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until just tender, about 5 minutes. While the vegetables are cooking, shred the chicken into small bite-size pieces. Transfer the cooked vegetables to the bowl with the chicken; set aside.
    Over medium heat melt the butter in the empty pot. Stir in the flour and cook for one minute, stirring constantly. Slowly whisk in the reserved chicken broth and milk. Bring to a simmer and stir occasionally until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes, taking care not to burn the bottom. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Remove from the heat and stir the chicken, vegetables and peas into the sauce.
    Pour the mixture into a 9×13 pan. Scatter the crumble topping evenly over the filling. Place the 9X13-inch pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees until the topping is well browned, about 15-20 minutes. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving.

    Wednesday, June 27, 2012

    Skillet Chicken Pasta with Broccoli and Sun-dried Tomatoes

    2-3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch squares
    2 tablespoons olive oil
    1 medium onion, minced
    4 medium cloves garlic, minced
    1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
    12 ounces ziti or penne pasta
    3 cups water
    2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
    4-5 cups broccoli florets
    1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, rinsed, drained and chopped coarse
    3/4 cup heavy cream
    1 teaspoon cornstarch
    3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    DIRECTIONS:
    Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until it is rippling and very hot. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and set aside.
    Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, onion, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the skillet. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the onion is softened, 2 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
    Add the pasta, water and broth. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is very thick and syrupy and almost completely absorbed, 12 to 15 minutes. There should still be a little bit of liquid in the bottom of the skillet but the pasta should be tender.
    Add the broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes. Stir lightly to incorporate them into the pasta mixture. Cover the skillet, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until the broccoli turns bright green and is almost tender, 2-3 minutes. While the broccoli is cooking, whisk the cream and cornstarch together.
    Uncover the skillet and stir in the cream, Parmesan, and reserved chicken with any accumulated juices and continue to simmer, uncovered, until the sauce is thickened and the chicken is heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Off the heat, stir in the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve, topped with extra Parmesan, if desired.

    Monday, May 21, 2012

    Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

    ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
    2 tsp. lemon zest or more — zest from 1 large lemon
    7/8 cup* + 1 tablespoon sugar**
    1 egg, room temperature
    1 tsp. vanilla
    2 cups flour
    2 tsp. baking powder
    1 tsp. kosher salt
    2 cups fresh blueberries
    ½ cup buttermilk
    * 7/8 cup = 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons
    ** This 1 tablespoon is for sprinkling on top
    1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cream butter with lemon zest and 7/8 cup of the sugar until light and fluffy.
    2. Add the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Meanwhile, toss the blueberries with ¼ cup of flour, then whisk together the remaining flour, baking powder and salt.
    3. Add the flour mixture to the batter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk. Fold in the blueberries.
    4. Grease a 9-inch square baking pan (or something similar) with butter or coat with non-stick spray. Spread batter into pan. Sprinkle batter with remaining tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 35 minutes. Check with a toothpick for doneness. If necessary, return pan to oven for a couple of more minutes. (Note: Baking for as long as 10 minutes more might be necessary.) Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

    Sunday, April 15, 2012

    No-Bake Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

    1/4 cup butter
    1/4 cup honey
    1/3 cup packed brown sugar
    2 cups quick cooking oats {not rolled oats!}
    1 cup crispy rice cereal
    1/2 teaspoon vanilla
    2 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
    Directions:
    In a large bowl, stir oats and rice cereal together. Set aside. In a small pot, melt butter, honey and brown sugar together over medium high heat until it comes to a bubble. Reduce the heat and cook 2 minutes. Pour in vanilla and stir. Pour over dry ingredients and mix well to moisten all ingredients. Pour into lightly greased small jelly roll pan {about 12x8x1} and press out to be about 3/4 inch in thickness. {If your pan isn’t small enough, pack the mixture into one side. You really want to press them down so they stick together.} Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips and press down lightly. Cool on a countertop to room temperature for two hours or until the chocolate chips are set before cutting into bars. Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap and store at room temperature.

    Wednesday, April 4, 2012

    Mini Puffed Oven Pancakes with Berry Sauce

    3/4 cup flour
    3/4 cup milk
    2 eggs
    1/8 teaspoon salt
    2-3 tablespoons butter, melted
    powdered sugar
    Berry Sauce
    6 large frozen or fresh strawberries
    3 tablespoons berry jam
    optional: sugar if needed, to taste
    Instructions
    Place mini muffin pan (or cast iron skillet) in oven and heat to 400 degrees. While oven is heating, place flour, milk, eggs, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. Carefully remove the pan from the oven (don’t forget it’s hot!) and quickly spray the wells with non-stick spray, or brush with melted butter. But we’re going for quick and easy here so I just grab the spray. (If using cast iron pan, coat entire pan surface with butter). Fill muffin wells 3/4 full with batter. Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, until puffed and slightly golden on top. Remove puffs and place on plate or platter. Drizzle with melted butter and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Drizzle with berry sauce and top with cool whip or whipped cream, or serve with sauce and/or maple syrup for dipping.
    Quick and Easy Berry Sauce
    If using frozen berries, place berries and jam in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for about 1 minute. Use a fork to stir and mash everything together (cut strawberries if necessary), or place everything in a blender and pulse a few times until desired consistency is reached. Add sugar to taste for sweetness and a few teaspoons of water or juice only if needed for consistency.
    Yields about 24 mini muffin pancake puffs

    Thursday, March 29, 2012

    Garlic Chicken with bowtie pasta

    1 TB olive oil
    chicken
    1 tsp salt
    1 TB olive oil
    6-8 cloves garlic, crushed
    1/2 C green onions
    3/4 C red or orange peppers
    1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
    1/2 C chicken broth
    1/2 tsp cornstarch
    1/2 tsp salt
    2 C pasta

    Fry chicken in oil until done.  Sprinkle with salt
    Cook garlic in oil till golden.  Add green onions and peppers, cook 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes, broth, red pepper, cornstarch and salt.  Heat to boiling then reduce head and simmer 5 min.  Combine chicken, sauce, and pasta.  Sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

    Hasselback potatoes

    russet potatoes (however many you want)
    olive oil
    salt
    pepper
    garlic powder
    butter

    preheat oven to 425.

    slice each potato into strips but don't cut all the way through the potato! (tip: it helped to put a wooden spoon on the back side of the potato while I cut to stop the knife from cutting all the way through) place the potato on a foil lined cookie sheet. drizzle with olive oil and generously season with salt, pepper and a little garlic powder. place tiny pats of butter inbetween a few of the layers.

    Bake for 40 min. (should be crispy on outside and fork tender on inside)

    Slow cooker honey sesame chicken

    4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thighs would be fine too I used breasts and think thighs would be better)
    Salt and pepper
    1 cup honey(I did about 3/4 cup agave and a 1/4 cup honey)
    1/2 cup soy sauce
    1/2 cup diced onion( I did a little more than a 1/2 cup probably about 3/4 just so i could use my whole onion)
    1/4 cup ketchup
    2 tablespoons vegetable oil (could also use olive oil or canola oil I used olive)
    2 cloves garlic, minced
    1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional - doesn't really add heat, just adds more flavor)
    4 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tablespoons water
    Sesame seeds

    Directions:
    Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 4 teaspoons of cornstarch in 6 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened. Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

    Chicken pillows and Parm sauce

    1/2 of the yummy roll dough

    1 block nufchatel cheese (the low fat cream cheese)
    about 1 1/2 - 2 cups shredded chicken (I had quart of bottled chicken and did about half of it....just eye ball it)
    1 green onion chopped
    1-2 T. chopped fresh italian parsley
    garlic Powder
    Salt
    Pepper
    dried onion
    (all spices to taste)

    roll out dough and cut into squares. dollup a heaping spoonful and pinch the dough together at bottom. (mom/brooke, like nikuman) put on a greesed cookie sheet.
    Bake at a 375 oven for 20 min.

    Parm Sauce
    1 1/2 T. butter
    1 1/2 T. flour
    3/4 c. milk
    1/4 t. chicken base (better than bullion)
    1/4 c. parm cheese
    Pepper
    salt
    1/2 c. sour cream

    melt butter and whisk in flour. whisk in milk. add salt and pepper to taste. once thick remove from heat and add parm. mix. add sour cream.

    Tuesday, February 28, 2012

    Sugar Cookies

    1 Cup Butter
    1 Cup Sugar
    2 Eggs
    1 tsp Vanilla

    Blend and then add

    3 Cups Flour
    1 tsp Salt
    Chill for at least an hour. (you know how I feel about that....)

    Bake at 350 for 6-10 minutes
    I roll the dough a little thick (at least a 1/4 inch) and bake them for 7 - 9 minutes... they are even better the next day. YUMMMM!