Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Orange Zest and Buttery Almonds

Don't smother the sweet taste of spring vegetables with heavy sauces and long cook times; these sugar snap peas just need a few quick minutes in the pan and a lovely, seasoned butter sauce.  This dish is best served warm, so plan to make it right before your guests sit down to dinner.  We cut the sugar snap peas at an angle so they can absorb the butter sauce.  Melt 1 Tbsp of butter and cook half of the snap peas, then repeat the process with the remaining peas.  Quickly make a sauce with the remaining butter, almonds, Creole seasoning, and orange juice, pour over the sugar snap peas and garnish with orange zest.

6 Tbsp butter, divided
1 1/2 lbs fresh sugar snap peas, trimmed and halved at an angle (about 8 cups)
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/4 tsp Creole seasoning
1 tsp orange zest
1/4 cup fresh juice from 1 large orange, divided

Melt 1 Tbsp of the butter in a large skillet over high until foamy.  Add 4 cups of the snap peas, 1/4 tsp of the salt and 1/4 tsp of the pepper.  Cook, stirring often, until tender-crisp, 3 - 4 minutes.  Transfer peas to a large serving platter.  Repeat process with 1 Tbsp butter and remaining 4 cups peas, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.  

Reduce heat under skillet to medium; melt remaining 4 Tbsp butter.  Add almonds, and Creole seasoning.  Cook, stirring constantly, until butter browns, about 3 minutes.  Stir in orange juice.  Cook, stirring constantly until sauce is glossy and thickened slightly, about 1 minute.  Spoon over peas on platter; sprinkle with orange zest.  

 

Herby Chicken Over Lemony Spaghetti

This is another Hello Fresh dish that I've made time and again.  It comes together quickly and is just so full of flavor.

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2" pieces

2 garlic cloves, minced and separated

1 lemon, zested and squeezed

6 oz spaghetti

1 chicken breast

1 Tbsp Herbs de Provence

1/2 cup chicken stock

2 Tbsp sour cream

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 Tbsp butter

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Wash and dry all produce.  

Once water is boiling, add spaghetti to the pot.  Cook until al dente, 9 - 11 minutes.  Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain and se spaghetti aside.  Keep empty pot handy for later.  

Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat.  Add zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 4 - 6 minutes.  Season with salt and pepper.  Turn off heat; transfer to a plate.  

While zucchini cooks, pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with Herbs de Provence, salt and pepper.  Once zucchini is done, heat a large drizzle of oil in the same pan over medium-high heat.  Add chicken; cook until browned and cooked through, 4 - 5 minutes per side.  Turn off heat; transfer to a cutting board to rest.  Once cool enough to handle slice chicken crosswise.  

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in the pot used for spaghetti over medium-high heat.  Add garlic and half the lemon zest.  Cook, stirring, until fragrant 20 - 30 seconds.  Stir in chicken stock and lemon juice.  Simmer until thickened 1 - 2 minutes.  Turn off heat.  

Add spaghetti, zucchini, sour cream, and 1 Tbsp butter to sauce; toss to coat.  Add half the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.  If needed, add a splash of pasta water.  Divide between bowls.  Top with chicken.  Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan and lemon zest. 

Cheddar Corn Biscuits

Skip the standard bake-and-serve dinner rolls and try these fast-to-fix biscuits showcasing cheddar cheese and corn.  It's almost impossible to resist eating one right from the oven!

4 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp ground  mustard

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup cold butter, cubed

1 can (14 3/4 oz) cream-style corn

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tbsp milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, mustard and salt.  Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Add corn, cheese and eggs; stir just until moistened.  

Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead gently 8 - 10 times.  Pat or roll dough to 1" thickness; cut with a floured 2 1/2" biscuit cutter.  Place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets; brush with milk.  Bake 18 - 22 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm.

French Onion Stuffed Mushrooms

This is one of those recipes I ran across quite by accident and I'm so happy I did.  These mushrooms are baked to an absolutely perfect combo of crunchy inside and cheesy, velvety outside.  A perfect complement to your next steak dinner.  

1 lb large fresh mushrooms

3 Tbsp butter

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1 packet onion soup mix

1 Tbsp water

1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs

1/8 tsp black pepper

3 slices provolone or gouda cheese, each cut into 4 squares

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Gently clean mushrooms by wiping them with damp paper towels.  Remove stems from 12 mushrooms; set caps aside.  Finely chop the remaining whole mushrooms.  

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter; cook onion 3 minutes, or just until soft.  Stir in chopped mushrooms, onion soup mix, and water and cook 4 - 5 minutes, or until tender.  Remove from heat and add breadcrumbs and black pepper; mix well.  

Using a teaspoon, stuff mushroom caps with stuffing mixture.  Place on ungreased baking sheet.  

Bake 12 minutes.  Remove from oven, top each with a piece of cheese, and return to the oven for 5 minutes, of until cheese is melted and mushrooms are heated through.

Serve immediately.  

 

Braised Chicken Thighs with Spring Vegetables

Who doesn't love a one-pot dinner?  Fewer dishes to do after dinner is always a good thing.  This recipe is perfectly delicious and cooks in your Dutch oven.

4 Tbsp olive oil, divided
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tsp kosher salt, divided
1 tsp black pepper, divided
1 1/2 cups chopped white onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1 lb large carrots, cut in half lengthwise and halves cut diagonally into 2" pieces
12 oz multicolored baby potatoes, halved
3 cups chicken stock
8 oz fresh snow peas, cut in half diagonally
6 oz fresh or frozen (thawed) English peas
3 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
3 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon

3 Tbsp thinly sliced fresh chives

1 lemon cut into wedges
 

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.  Heat 2 Tbsp of the oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high.  Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1 tsp of the salt and 1/2 tsp of the pepper.  Working in 2 batches, place chicken, skin side down, in Dutch oven.  Cook, undisturbed, until deep golden brown and crispy, 7 - 8 minutes.  Flip chicken; cook 1 minute.  Remove from Dutch oven and set aside (chicken will not be cooked through).

Add onion to Dutch oven.  Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add garlic.  Cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add wine.  Cook, scraping up browned bits on bottom of Dutch oven, until reduced by half, about 2 minutes.  Add carrots, potatoes, and stock; stir to combine.  Bring to a boil over high.  Reduce heat to medium-high; simmer, undisturbed, 5 minutes.

Nestle chicken, skin side up, in mixture in Dutch oven.  Transfer Dutch oven to preheated oven.  Cook, uncovered, until the chicken thighs have cooked through, about 20 minutes.  Remove from the oven.  Transfer chicken to a plate using tongs.

Return Dutch oven to stove and heat over medium.  Stir in snow peas, English peas, and remaining 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until snow peas are just cooked through, about 3 minutes.  Nestle chicken into the mixture, and sprinkle with parsley, tarragon, and chives.  Drizzle with remaining olive oil.  Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

Zucchini-Corn Fritters

Looking for a good side dish for your steak night?  This just may be the perfect pairing. And it's another way to use up that abundance of zucchini this summer.

2 medium zucchini, coarsely shredded
Kosher salt
1 Tbsp butter

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

2 ears corn, kernels cut off 

1/2 cup cornmeal

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking soda

Freshly ground black pepper

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

Vegetable oil to fry

Toss the zucchini with 1/2 tsp salt in a medium bowl; let stand 10 minutes.  Wrap the zucchini in a kitchen towel and squeeze dry.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 4 minutes.  Add the corn and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender crisp, about 3 minutes.  Set aside.

Whisk the cornmeal, flour, baking soda, 3/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper in a medium bowl.  Whisk the buttermilk and egg in a large bowl, then stir in the corn-onion mixture and zucchini.  Add the cornmeal mixture and stir until just combined.  

Wipe out the skillet the corn-onion mixture was cooked in.  Pour in about 1/8 inch of vegetable oil and place over medium heat.  Working in batches, scoop scant 1/4 cupfuls of the batter into the oil and use the back of the measuring cup to flatten the scoops.  Cook until the fritters are golden brown, 3 o- 4 minutes per side.  Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt.  

Serve warm and enjoy.  

 

Honey-Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

 

Looking for a super-easy dinner idea?  Then this is the recipe for you.  This is easy thanks to the slow cooker, plus the ingredients are likely already in your pantry.  

4 skinless chicken thighs
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup honey
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp dried oregano

Place the chicken thighs in the bottom of your slow cooker.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, and oregano.  Pour mixture over the chicken thighs.

Cook on low heat for 6 hours.  

Serve with roasted potatoes and a green vegetable.  

Super easy dinner!

Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad

This is the perfect picnic or road trip meal.  This salad is bursting with flavors of fresh herbs, dried berries, crisp lemon juice and tender chicken.  Serve as a sandwich, over a bed of lettuce, or with crackers. 

 
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp minced flat leaf parsley
1/4 tsp dried dill

3 cups chopped or shredded cooked chicken

1/2 cup finely chopped celery or finely chopped apple

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/3 cup chopped toasted walnuts

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream or Greek yogurt, lemon juice, parsley and dill.

Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until combined.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. 

 

Thai Drunke Noodles

Need dinner in a hurry?  See smiles all around when these Thai Drunken Noodles make their way to the table.  This scrumptious dish includes tomatoes, garlic and toasted sesame seed dressing for terrific flavor.

1/2 lb dry rice noodles, uncooked

2 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

1 1/2 tsp brown sugar

1 tsp chili-garlic sauce

1/4 cup Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing, divided 

1 small white onion, sliced

3 garlic cloves, minces

2 tomatoes, chopped

Cook the noodles as directed on the package, omitting salt.  Meanwhile, mix soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, chili-garlic sauce and 2 Tbsp dressing until blended.  

Heat remaining dressing in large deep skillet or wok on high heat.  Add onions and garlic, cook and stir 2 minutes.  Remove from heat.  

Add tomatoes, noodles and soy sauce mixture, mix lightly.  

Make this a total meal by adding grilled shrimp.  

 

Kansas City -Style Spareribs

What ribs are better than Kansas City-Style Spareribs?  None.  They are hands down the best! 

Dry Rub

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp paprika

1 Tbsp seasoned salt (I like Red Robin)

1 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 tsp onion powder

1 1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp dry mustard powder

Ribs

2 racks pork spareribs

1 bottle barbecue sauce Kansas City-style (any brand - pick your favorite)

Preheat your oven to 300 degrees then coat a grill pan or baking sheet with a rack inside with cooking spray.  

In a small bowl, stir together all ingredients for dry rub until evenly combined.  Pat ribs dry using paper towels then trim away excess fat and silver skin from both sides.  

Season both sides of each rack of ribs generously with spice rub, using half of the rub for each rack.  St this point, you may begin baking right away or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.  Personally, I like to let them absorb all that good flavor by refrigerating overnight.

Place the ribs on the prepared pan and bake for 2 1/2 hours.  Begin checking ribs at about 2 hours and rotate if necessary for even cooking.  If the edges of the meat are becoming too crispy and dark, cover the ribs loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil for remaining cook time.  

When ribs are tender, remove from the oven and brush top side with barbecue sauce.  Return to the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 20 minutes.  Separate ribs by cutting between bones and serve with remaining sauce. 

Note:  Don't worry if you don't use all of the dry rub -- it's great on chicken or pork too.  Simply seal what's leftover in an airtight container and store it for up to 2 months.