Country Chicken Casserole

 Are you looking for a new chicken dish that brings new flavor to the table?  Well, this may be just what you're looking for.  If you're a bacon lover . . . it may be your new favorite!

2 large chicken breasts

1 medium yellow onion

5 slices of bacon

2 large potatoes

1 cup fresh portabella mushrooms

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

3/4 cup chicken broth

1 Tbsp melted butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Pinch of garlic powder

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

Fry the bacon and crumble.  Set aside.  Reserve the bacon grease.

Peel and cube the potatoes and fry until tender in the bacon grease.

Dice the onion.  Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder and fry in the bacon grease.  

Fry the mushrooms in bacon grease until softened.

Coat the chicken breast with melted butter and season with salt and peeper.  Sear in a skillet or on a grill.  

Cut the cooked chicken into cubes.

Mix the Cream of Chicken soup with chicken broth and season with salt and pepper to make a sauce.

In an 8" x 8" baking dish combine the chicken, mushrooms, onions and potatoes.  Top with the sauce and mix it well.

Bake for 30 minutes covered with foil.

Remove foil, top with crumbled bacon and bake for 10 more minutes uncovered.

Note:  If you want to make a healthier version, substitute bacon grease with olive oil.

Corn Casserole - Easy and Satisfying

 

My hubby loves corn bread and he always complains that I don't make it often enough.  This recipe takes corn bread to another level and he loves it!

8 oz Jiffy Corn Muffin mix

15 oz whole kernel corn (drained)

   or you may substitute 2 cups of frozen kernels            (defrosted)

15 oz creamed corn (not drained)

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup melted butter

2 eggs beaten

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup shredded cheese (your choice)

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

2 Tbsp chives, for garnish

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients except the chives together and pour into a greased 8" x8" baking pan.

Bake uncovered for 45 - 50 minutes or until lightly browned.  Garnish with chives and serve.  

This has also been called Corn Pudding.  It has a damp texture, but should not be mushy.  

Perfect Baked Cod

 I'm not a true fan of most fish, but I do like Cod.  It tends to take on the flavor of what it's baked with.  This is my favorite baked Cod dish.

4 Cod filets, about 1" thick

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

4 Tbsp olive oil

1 cup of cocktail tomatoes, halved or quartered

1 lemon, sliced, plus zest

2 garlic cloves, smashed

4 thyme sprigs

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Pat Cod filets with paper towel until dry

Season all over with salt and pepper

Combine olive oil, tomatoes, lemon slices, garlic and thyme in a 9" x 13" baking dish

Bake until fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, approximately 30 minutes. 

Serve garnished with parley, more lemon juice, and pan sauce.

Tonight's Dinner - Beef Stew - A great winter dinner!

2 lbs beef brisket

1 1/2 Tbsp Brisket seasoning

1 pkg Orrington Farms Slow Cookers Beef Stew seasoning

1 can Campbell's French Onion Soup

1 cup water

3 stalks celery, sliced

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

2 potatoes, peeled and diced

1/2 lg green beans, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces

2 tomatoes, cut into 8 pieces

1 Tbsp "Better Than Bouillon" Roasted Beef Base

24 hours before you wish to serve, place brisket in a crock pot and season with brisket seasoning on all sides.  Place in the refrigerator (lidded) to sit until 1 hour before cook time.  This will cook for 8 hours, so if you want to serve at 6:00 PM, you need to remove it from the fridge at 9:00 AM and let it warm to room temp until 10:00 AM and then place it in the crock pot.  Add all of the veggies, top with the can of French Onion soup, and then mix the seasoning packet with the cup of water and beef base.  Let this cook on low for 7 hours. Remove the brisket and shred it, adding it back to the crock pot to cook the rest of the hour.  

Serve with crusty bread.

Sweet & Sour Pineapple Shrimp

1 lb large shrimp (16 - 20 size)            

2 cups fresh pineapple, cubed

1 tsp kosher salt

2 Tbsp soy sauce

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups pineapple juice

1/2 cup Thai sweet red chili sauce

1 cup baby spinach, sliced

2 mini seedless cucumbers, thinly sliced

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup salted roasted peanuts, chopped

Lime wedges for serving

12 oz rice noodles (prepared according to package directions)

Prepare your rice noodles according to package directions.  Drain, divide among four bowls, and set aside.

Peel and devein your shrimp and remove tails.  Toss shrimp and pineapple in a large bowl and season with salt.  Add soy sauce and stir to coat.  

Slice your cucumbers and red onion and set aside in separate bowls for serving later.

Coarsely chop your peanuts and set aside for serving later.

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Place the pineapple in the skillet and cook 5 - 6 minutes, stirring often.  You want it well browned on all sides.  Remove the pineapple from the skillet and set it aside.  Add the shrimp to the same skillet and cook 3 - 4  minutes until opaque.  Transfer them to the plate with the pineapple.  

Cook pineapple juice and chili sauce in the same skillet over medium-high heat.  Simmer until it is reduced by half  and is almost syrupy (approx 12 - 16 minutes).  Remove from the heat and stir in the pineapple, shrimp and spinach.  

Spoon pineapple and shrimp mixture over your noodle bowls and drizzle with extra sauce.  

Top with cucumbers, onions, peanuts and lime wedges as desired.

Who Doesn't Love a Good Prime Rib?

 

To serve a party of 8, I suggest the following:

2 - 6 lb prime rib boned and tied

1 cup softened butter

5 cloves minced garlic

1 Tbsp finely chopped thyme

1 Tbsp finely chopped oregano

1 Tbsp finely chopped rosemary

1 Tbsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Remove the prime rib from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before prepping to bring it to room temperature.  Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  

In a small bowl, mix butter, garlic, thyme, oregano, rosemary, salt and pepper.  Rub all of the butter on the outside of your prime rib and place it in a roasting pan or large skillet with the fat side up.  

Bake for 15 minutes and then reduce the oven temp to 325 degrees.  Bake for 15 minutes per pound of meat for a medium rare prime rib.  I prefer mine to be medium well so I increase time to 20 minutes per pound.

Remove from the oven and let it rest tented in foil for at least 20 minutes.  

Crispy Parmesan Baked Potatoes

I go through stages with my cooking.  I'm a total foodie at heart.  Sometimes I get stuck in a rut and cook the same foods for a few weeks at a time and then I find something new that I just have to try.  This recipe is one of those.  It sounds really good!  Who doesn't like a good potato?

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1 tsp garlic powder

8 small Yukon gold potatoes cut lengthwise in half

3 Tbsp butter, melted

Heat your oven to 400 degrees.  

Combine cheese and garlic powder in shallow dish.  

Dip cut sides of potatoes in butter, then in cheese mixture.  Place cheese side down on a baking sheet.  Drizzle with any remaining butter.

Bake 30 - 35 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Doesn't this sound delicious?

Cheesy Buttery Puff

 

I found this recipe on "My Food and Family" and it looks like something I'd like to try.  Look out!  Karan's getting creative.  Lol!

10 Ritz crackers, crushed

1/2 cup milk

4 oz Velveeta, cut into cubes

4 oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese, cubed

4 eggs, separated

3 Tbsp fresh chives, chopped

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Spread your cracker crumbs onto the bottom of a 9" square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan combine the milk, Velveeta, and cream cheese and cook over medium heat until the cheeses are completely melted and mixture is well blended.  Stir frequently.  

Whisk the egg yolks and chives together until well blended.  Stir these into the cheese mixture once it is cool enough.  Note:  If you stir the egg yolks into hot cheese mixture they will scramble.  Wait a few minutes for it to cool.  

Beat the egg whites in a small bowl with a mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form.  Gently stir them into the cheese mixture.

Pour into your baking dish and bake for 20 - 25 minutes or until top is puffed and golden brown.  

Serve immediately.  This is best served hot!

Jumbo Shrimp with Chile, Garlic and Parsley

6 Tbsp Olive Oil (divided)

2 garlic cloves, pressed

2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

1 1/2 lbs jumbo shrimp (16-20 size), shelled and deveined

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

Lemon wedges (for serving)

Combine garlic, parsley, red pepper flakes, and 4 Tbsp olive oil in a medium bowl.  

Toss shrimp with remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil in another medium bowl and season with kosher salt and pepper.

Grill shrimp over medium high heat, either on a grill or on a grill pan, until cooked through.  Transfer to the bowl with garlic-parsley mixture and toss to coat.  Season with kosher salt and pepper.  Transfer shrimp to a serving platter and pour the garlic-parsley mixture over them.  Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over.  

Upscale Green Beans

 I always look for ways to kind of lighten up the calories of our Thanksgiving dinner while keeping things traditional and flavorful.  This is a lightened up version of green bean casserole.  It's become a family favorite.

 6 Tbsp butter

4 oz fresh shiitake mushrooms, stemmed 

1 shallot, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

1 lb trimmed French green beans

2/3 cup chicken broth

Slice the mushroom caps into strips.  Melt 3Tbsp butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.  Add shiitake mushrooms and saute for about 5 minutes or until tender.  Add a pinch of salt.  Transfer the mushrooms to a paper towel lined plate and set aside.  Melt the remaining butter in the same skillet.  Add shallots and garlic and saute until tender (approx. 2 minutes).  Add the green beans and toss to coat with the butter.  Add the chicken broth to the pan and cover.  Bring to a low boil and simmer until the stock evaporates.  Stir in the shiitake mushrooms and season to taste with salt and pepper.  

Transfer to a bowl or plate to serve.

Chicken & Dumplings - The Perfect Comfort Food

Chicken and dumplings has always been one of my favorite meals.  As much as I love it though, I'm not very good at recipes that require the use of a rolling pin.  I've made a couple of modifications to this recipe to accommodate my rolling pin insecurities and it's still delicious!

Broth

1 whole chicken (thawed)

Olive oil
2 Bay leaves

1 Onion

12 cups of water

Poultry seasoning, salt and pepper to taste

In a large stock pot over medium-high heat, add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pot.  Add your chicken and sear it for three minutes on each side.  Cover with water and add the bay leaves, onion, and seasonings.  Bring to a boil and let it boil slowly for an hour.  

While your chicken cooks, peel and slice 3 large carrots into 1/2" slices.  Slice 3 stalks of celery into 1/2" slices.  Set them aside.  Depending on what veggies I have available, I may add fresh green beans or fresh peas.  It's good with or without the extras.  

Remove your chicken from the stock pot and set it on a cutting board and allow it to cool.  

Taste your stock and add more seasoning to suit your taste.  Add your carrots, celery, and extra veggies, if desired.  Allow these to simmer while you make the dumplings and the chicken cools.  

Dumplings

1 3/4 cups flour

1/3 cup Crisco shortening

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp salt

Combine flour, baking powder, salt and shortening in a medium bowl.  Use a fork to mix until the shortening in completely mixed in.  Add milk a little at a time until you get a soft, but not sticky dough.  Here's where we go rogue . . . I don't roll out the dough, I pinch off bite sized pieces of the dough and flatten with my fingers and drop the dumplings into the boiling broth.  The dumplings need to boil for about 20 minutes.  

As the dumplings cook, remove the skin from the chicken and pull the meat from the bones in bite-sized pieces and add it back to the broth with the veggies and dumplings.  

If you want to thicken your broth, combine 4 Tbsp of cornstarch with 4 Tbsp of water in a small bowl.  Add this, a little bit at a time, to the boiling broth, stirring until you reach the desired thickness. 

This is one of my go to recipes when it's cold and dreary outside.  It's just so satisfying.  

Thanksgiving Turkey 2019 -- This was the best one ever!

I have to tell on myself.  I've not spent enough time adding posts to this blog the last couple of years.  I noticed when I signed in this afternoon that I had created a draft of our 2019 Thanksgiving turkey recipe and I never bothered to post it. So . . . here we go.

Honestly, I've been preparing Thanksgiving dinner for more years than I care to admit, but this turkey was the best ever.  I will definitely repeat this every year moving forward.

15 lb turkey
2 sticks of salted butter (room temp)
1 pkg fresh Poultry herbs (sage, rosemary, and thyme)
1 lemon
2 stalks celery
1 red onion

Create a butter spread by chopping half of the herbs into small dice and combining with the butter.  Mix well, adding a good amount of salt and pepper.  

Unwrap your turkey and remove giblets and neck.  Pat dry with a paper towel. 

Cut your lemon into eighths and combine with chopped celery and chopped onion.  Sprinkle heavily with  salt and pepper and stuff into turkey. 

Smear your herb butter all over the turkey and poke several holes into your bird with a small paring knife to allow the flavor to work it's way into the meat.

I like to use Reynolds turkey-size roasting bags.  I place the turkey in the bag and set it on a rack inside my roasting pan.  I bake it at 325 degrees for about 4 hours.  It comes out perfectly golden brown and absolutely delicious!  

Bread & Butter Pickles

These pickles are a family favorite.

Slice enough cucumbers to fill a 1 quart jar

Slice 1/2 white or yellow onion

Place cucumbers and onion in a plastic bowl and sprinkle with Kosher salt

Let sit for 1/2 hour

Place all in a one quart jar.

Prepare your pickling solution:

2 cups apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 tsp mustard seed

1/2 tsp Tumeric

1/2 tsp celery seed

3 Tbsp Kosher Salt

Bring your pickling solution to a boil.  Let cool and then pour into jar.  Allow to cool and then refrigerate. Rotate your jars every half hour until they reach room temp.  

What On Earth Do We Do With All Of Theses Cucumbers? We Make Dill Pickles, Of Course!

 For one quart jar of dill pickles:

Slice, quarter, or leave whole enough cucumbers to pack a one quart jar.  Place them in a large plastic bowl and sprinkle them with Kosher Salt lightly.

Slice 1/2 white onion and add that to the bowl and sprinkle with Kosher Salt.

Peel and smash one garlic clove and drop it into the bottom of your jar.  Add one large sprig of fresh dill.

Fill your jar with a mixture of cucumber and onion.

Prepare your pickling solution:

1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 cups water

3 tsp kosher salt

1/8 cup sugar

1 tsp whole black peppercorns

1 tsp pickling spice

1 tsp yellow mustard seed

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Bring to a boil and then let cool a bit.  Pour solution into your jar and let them stand until they reach room temp.  Flip them every half hour to mix well.  Place in refrigerator and they should be ready to eat in one week. The photo shown includes a couple of Tabasco peppers instead of onions. Add what you like.