I'm always trying new ways to cook chicken. It's one of my favorite meats, edged out only by filet mignon. It's much more versatile and cheaper so I have it quite often.
Sour Cream & Paprika Chicken
1 pound chicken, cut into serving pieces
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tsp flour
1 tbsp paprika
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Brown chicken strips in olive oil until golden brown and clear juices run when cut. Remove from pan. Bring the chicken broth to a boil and stir in sour cream with flour blended into it. Add paprika, salt and pepper. Add back in chicken strips and heat until serving.
Serve on your favorite pasta or mashed potatoes.
I made a treat today for one of my friends that will be moving away soon.
Spice Cupcakes
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/4 cup corn starch
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp allspice
Cream butter and sugar. Add in buttermilk, eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients in a small bowl and gradually add into butter mixture.
Servings: 15
Bake for 20 minutes at 325°F
You can make this as a cake or in regular size cupcakes. I chose to do the jumbo cupcakes this time. I frosted them with a standard cream cheese icing.
Cream Cheese Icing
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
Peach Pound Cake
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups peaches, peeled and diced (fresh or frozen)
1/2 cup peach preserves
Cream butter and sugar. Add in eggs and vanilla. Combine all the dry ingredients in a small bowl and gradually add into butter mixture. Add in peaches and peach preserves.
Grease a loaf or tube pan generously.
Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes at 325°F
I love Italian food. It's so easy to make and tastes so much better than any sauces that are in a jar.
Italian Sausage Stew
1 pound Italian sausage, cooked
1 large clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup onion, minced
1 cup chicken broth
14.5 ounces diced tomatoes
19 ounces cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp Italian seasonings
1 tsp parsley
3/4 cup Ziti, Mostaccioli or other medium pasta shape, uncooked
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cook Italian sausage with onion and garlic. In a medium saucepan, add in chicken broth, diced tomatoes, cannellini beans and spices. Add in cooked Italian sausage, onion and garlic and cook for a half hour on a medium low heat. Add in ziti and cook for an additional 15 minutes.
Servings: 6
If you're looking for a snack that has a warming spice afterglow...this is for you.
Sweet with a kick snack mix
1 cup peanuts
1 cup pecan halves
1 cup honey wheat crackers
1/2 cup craisens
1/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp cayenne
1 large egg white, lightly beaten
Whip egg white until frothy.
Combine in a gallon plastic bag - peanuts, pecans, crackers and craisens. Pour egg white over, close top and shake.
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and spices. Pour into plastic bag. Shake well.
Spread out on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Yield: 4 cups
Bake for 15 minutes at 325°F
A couple months ago a co-worker presented me with a challenge. She brought in a sandwich that had meat baked on the inside. One of my favorite sandwiches is a Monte Cristo so I decided that was the sandwich I wanted to create as a stuffed bun.
3 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup milk
3 large eggs
1/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 tsp bread machine active dry yeast
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup ham, cubed
1/2 cup turkey breast, cut thin strips
1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded
1/8 cup strawberry jam
Melt butter and add milk, heat until warm. Combine all dry ingredients in a bread machine. Slowly pour in milk/butter mixture. Set to dough setting.
When dough cycle is complete, roll out on floured surface until 1/8" thick. Cut out in 4" circles. I used a Pampered Chef Cut-N-Seal to cut the dough with.
Fill the center of each circle with a few ham pieces, turkey slices, a pinch of cheese and 1/4 tsp. strawberry jam.
Pinch together dough and place seam side down on a parchment lined baking sheets. Let rise for a half hour before baking.
Serve warm.
Servings: 26
Bake for 20 minutes at 325°F
I've been wanting to make my own bbq sauce for quite awhile. I'm not sure why I waited until it really isn't the nicest weather outside to do this but luckily I have a few indoor grills.
Honey BBQ Sauce
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup butter
1 tbsp raspberry vinegar
3 tbsp onion finely chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tbsp brown sugar
Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook on low heat until onions and garlic are tender.
Yield: 2 cups
